THE  UNIVERSITY  OF 

NORTH  CAROLINA 

LIBRARY 


THE  WILMER  COLLECTION 
OF  CIVIL  WAR  NOVELS 
PRESENTED  BY 

RICHARD  H.  WILMER,  JR. 


/  -  .. 


SniMEHQOLLts^i 


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THE    SOCK    STOEIES, 

Br  "  ArXT  FANNY'S  "  DAUGUTEE. 


RED,   WHITE,   AND   BLUE 

SOCKS. 

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.« 

•  BEINO 

THE   SECOND    BOOK   OF  THE    SEEIES. 

BY 

''AUNT   FANNY'S"   DAUGHTER, 

IHE  AI7TH0B  OF  "THE  LXTTLE  WHITE  AlfGEL." 


NEW  YORK : 
LEAVITT  ^   ALLEX,    21    &   23  MERCER  ST 

1863. 


% 


Entered,  according  to  Act  of  Conirress,  in  the  year  1852,  br 

S.   L.  BAKROW, 

In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States  for  tbe 

Southern  District  of  Xew  York. 


kn 


JO:iX  F.  TRO\r, 

T&tKXMR,    StBREOTVPEE,    A.vn    ELBC7TROrrP«», 

50  Greene  Street,  Xew  York. 


4 

0 


CO]S^TEXTS  OF  YOL.  11. 


PAOB 

COLONEL  FPvEDDY ;  or,  the  March  and  Enoamp- 

MEXT  OF  THE  DaSHAHED  ZoUATES, 

Chap.  L — Belligerent  Powers,         .        .        ,  ^   .      5 

IL— Bull  Eux, 80 

in. — Before  Monterey, 50 

IV. — A  Grand  Eeyiew,  ....         87 

v.— "Home!   Sweet  Home!"  .        .        .111 

CoNCLrsiON, 125 


602703 


COLOXEL  FREDDY; 

OR, 

THE  MAECH  AND  EyClMrMENT  OF  THE  DASHAHED  ZOUAVES. 
PART  II. 


CHAPTER  I. 

BELLIGERENT     POWERS. 

Tuesday  morning  dawned  ^^  as  clear 
as  a  bell/'  as  an  old  lady  once  said, 
and  the  Daslialied  Zouaves,  if  not 
exactly  up  with  the  sun,  were  awake 
and  stirring  at  a  much  earlier  hour 
than  usual ;  and  after  a  rather  more 
careful  washing  and  brushing  than 
soldiers  usually  indulge  in,  assembled 


6  COLONEL  FREDDY. 

on  the  lawn,  lookins;  as  brio-ht  as  their 
own  buttons. 

^'  What  fun  it  is  to  be  soldiers ! '' 
cried  a  little  lisping  fellow,  one  of  the 
privates.  ^'  I  only  wish  thome  South- 
erners would  come  alons:  now,  and 
you'd  thee  how  I'd  tlimasli  'em.'^ 

'^  Bravo,  Louie ! "'  said  Harry, 
laughing ;  '^  I  dare  say,  if  we  were  to 
go  to  the  wars,  you'd  keep  on  fighting 
the  battles  of  your  country  till  you 
were  chopped  into  inch  bits !  " 

^^And  pickled!  I  expect  to  be 
made  Lieutenant-general,  Command- 
er-in-chief, Colonel,  Major,  Captain, 
Lieutenant,  Sergeant  Hamilton  at  the 
very  least !  " 

''  Pooh  !  that's  nothing  to  the  feats 
of  bravery  I  intend  to  perform  !  "  cried 


n^fi 


COLONEL   FREDDY.  7 

Peter.  ''In  my  first  battle  I  shall 
capture  a  2,000-pound  columbiad  with 
one  hand  tied  behind  me,  and  carry 
it  home  for  a  paper  weight !  ^^ 

''  While  I'm  charging  a  regiment 
of  mounted  infantry  single  handed, 
and  making  them  throw  away  their 
swords,  and  pistols,  and  things,  and 
run  for  that  'last  ditch'  of  theirs 
double  quick ! ''  said  Will  Costar, 
laughing  ;  "  but  here  comes  breakfast, 
I'm  happy  to  say.  It  strikes  me 
camping  out  makes  a  fellow  awful 
huno-ry,  as  well  as  no  end  of  brave.'' 

A  servant  who  had  been  sent  from 
the  house  with  breakfast  materials, 
now  approached,  and  the  table  being 
laid,  the  soldiers  drew  their  camp 
stools  around  it ;  Colonel  Freddy  sit-^ 


8  COLONEL  FREDDY. 

ting  at  the  head  and  pouring  out  cof- 
fee Avith  ffreat  ffravitv.  Everythino' 
was  going  on  smoothly  enough^  when 
Hany  tilted  the  tray  on  one  side,  and 
Charley  knocked  his  elbow  on  the 
other,  and  away  went  the  coffee  to 
the  very  end  of  the  table ! 

^'  Chariey/^  exclaimed  the  Colonel, 
severely,  ^^what  do  you  mean,  sir? 
Til  have  you  put  in  arrest  if  you  don't 
look  out!^' 

''  Who'll  put  me  there  ? '' 

"  Me  ! ''  shouted  Peter.  ''  Fm  the 
boy  to  manao'e  refractories.  You'll 
see  how  I  will  come  after  you  with  a 
sharp  stick — bayonet,  I  mean — and 
put  you  in  arrest  like  that !  "  snapping 
his  fingers. 

^^  By  the  way,  when  weVe  caught 


COLONEL  FKEDDY.  9 

our  rebels,  wliere  is  the  prison  to  be  ?  " 

asked  Jimmy. 

''"Why,  ill  the  smoke  house.  There's 
a  patent  spring  bolt  on  the  door — fa- 
ther had  it  fixed  the  last  time  we 
had  hams  made  ;  and  if  anybody  was 
once  in  there,  they'd  never  get  out  in 
the  world,  unless  they  could  draw 
themselves  fine  like  a  wire  and  squeeze 
throuo-h  the  chimnev.'^ 

''  \Ye'll  take  care  to  keep  out  of  it^ 
then ! ''  said  Charley ;  '-'  so.  Colonel, 
I  beg  pardon  for  tilting  the  biggin — 
I  didn't  mean  to  do  it  so  much — 
really ! '' 

"J,  too!''  cried  Harry;  ''shake 
hands,  old  chap  ! " 

Good-tempered  Freddy,  always 
ready  to  "  make  up,''  caught  a  hand 


10  COLOXEL  FREDDY. 

of  each  of  his  comrades,  and  breakfast 
went  on  amicably. 

Now,  there  lived  in  the  house  an 
old  English  man  servant  named  Jerry 
Pike.  He  had  formerly  been  a  groom 
and  attendant  on  Peter's  uncle,  Major 
Schermerhorn,  and  volunteered  in  the 
army  at  the  time  of  the  war  with 
Mexico,  that  he  might  follow  his  dear 
master,  whom  he  had  served  and  loved 
ever  since  the  Major  was  a  mere  boy. 
He  had  fought  bravely  beside  him  in 
many  a  hard  battle,  and,  for  his  gal- 
lant conduct,  been  promoted  to  the 
rank  of  sergeant.  When  the  hand  of 
death  removed  that  kind  master,  Mr. 
Schermerhorn  had  gladly  taken  Jerry 
to  his  own  house,  and  promised  him 
that  should  be  his  home  as  long  as  he 


COLONEL  FREDDY.  11 

lived.  So  now,  like  a  gallant  old  war 
horse,  who  has  a  fresh  green  paddock, 
and  lives  in  clover  in  his  infirm  age, 
Jerrv  not  only  stood  at  ease,  bnt  lived 
at  ease  ;  and  worked  or  not  as  he  felt 
disposed. 

When  breakfast  was  over,  Peter 
suddenly  cried  out,  "  I  say,  fellows,  sup- 
pose we  employ  ourselves  by  having  a 
drill!  You  know  old  Jerry  that  I 
told  you  about  ?  I'll  ask  him  to  give 
us  a  lesson  !  " 

^'Yes!  that  will  be  grand  fun!'' 
said  Freddy.  "  Do  go  and  find  him, 
Peter;  I  should  really  like  to  learn 
how  to  drill  as  the  soldiers  do;  so 
when  General  McClellan  comes  along, 
he'll  admire  us  as  much  as  the  English 
General,  old  Sir  Goutby  Slogo,  did  the 


12  COLONEL  FREDDY. 

Seventh  Regiment  when  they  paraded 
before  the  Prmce.  ^  Really,  most  ex- 
traordmary  style  of  marching  these 
American  troops  have/  said  he,  ^  most 
hequal  to  the  ^Orse  Guards  and  the 
Hoxford  Blues  coming  down  Regent 
street  \''' 

Meanwhile^  Peter  had  scampered 
off  to  the  house,  and  in  a  short  time 
returned  with  a  comical-looking  little 
old  man,  dressed  in  faded  regimentals. 

He  touched  his  cap  to  the  boys  as 
he  apin^oached^  in  military  style,  and 
^then  drew  himself  up  so  very  stiff  and 
straight,  awaiting  their  orders,  that, 
as  Freddy  whispered  to  Tom,  it  was  a 
perfect  wonder  he  didn't  snap  short 
off  at  the  waist. 

'^  NoW;  Jerry/'  began  the  Colonel, 


COLONEL  FKEDDY.  13 

^^  Tve  want  you  to  give  us  a  real  drill, 
you  know,  just  as  you  used  to  learn." 

''  Yes,  a  regular  one !  "  cliimed  in 
the  rest;  ^' we'll  run  for  our  guns/' 

''  Not  fur  your  fust  drill,  I  reckon, 
genl'men.  You'll  do  bad  enough  with- 
out 'em,  hech,  hech !  "  cackled  Jerry. 

^^Very  well — come  begin  then, 
Jerry  !  "  cried  impatient  Will. 

"  Are  ye  all  ready  ? 

'^  Yes,  and  waiting.' 

^^Then,  genl'men,  Fall  in!"  ex- 
claimed the  sergeant,  the  first  two 
words  being  uttered  in  his  natural 
voice,  but  the  last  m  an  awful  sepul- 
chral tone,  like  two  raps  on  the  base 
kettle  drum.  Off  duty,  Jerry  rather 
resembled  a  toy  soldier,  but  when  in 
o'ivino-  his  orders  he  stiffened  his  body, 


14  COLONEL  FREDDY. 

threw  up  his  head,  and  stuck  out  his 
hands,  he  looked  so  like  the  wooden 
figures  out  of  Noah's  ark,  that  the 
boys  burst  into  a  shout  of  laughter. 

^'  Now^  genrmen,"  exclaimed  Jerry 
in  a  severe  tone,  ^^this  won't  do.  Si- 
lence in  the  ranks.  Squad!  'Shun. 
The  fust  manoover  I  shel  teach  you, 
genl'men,  is  the  manoover  of  '  parade 
rest.'  Now  look  at  me,  and  do  as  I 
do." 

Anybody  would  have  supposed, 
naturally  enough,  that  to  stand  at  rest 
meant  to  put  your  hands  in  your  pock- 
ets and  lean  against  a  tree ;  but  what 
Jerry  did,  was  to  slap  his  right  hand 
against  his  left,  like  a  torpedo  going 
off,  and  fold  them  together ;  stick  out 
his   left  foot,  lean  heavily  upon   his 


COLONEL   FREDDY.  15 

rio'ht,  and  look  more  like  a  Dutch  doll 
than  ever. 

The  boys  accordingly  endeavored 
to  imitate  this  performance ;  but  when 
they  came  to  try  it,  a  difficulty  arose. 
Whatever  mioht  be  their  usual  ideas 

o 

on  the  subject,  there  "was  a  diversity 
of  opinion  now  as  to  the  proper  foot  to 
be  advanced,  and  a  wild  uncertainty 
which  was  the  left  foot.  The  new  sol- 
diers shuffled  backward  and  forward 
as  if  they  were  dancing  hornpipes ; 
while  Jerry  shouted,  ^^Xow,  then, 
genrmen,  I  can't  hear  them  hands 
come  together  smartly  as  Td  wished, 
not  like  a  row  of  Jarsey  cider  bottles 
a  poppin'^  one  arter  the  other,  but 
all  at  once.  Xow,  then,  SQUAD ! 
'SHUN!^'    in    a    voice    of    thunder, 


16  COLOXEL  FREDDY. 

^^  Stan^  at  parade  rest !  Xo — no — 
them  lef  futs  adwancecl !  Well  if 
ever !  "  And  Jerry  in  his  indignation 
gave  himself  such  a  thump  on  his 
chest  that  he  knocked  all  the  breath 
out  of  his  body,  and  had  to  t^  ait  some 
moments  before  he  could  go  on ;  while 
the  bovs,  bubblino'  over  with  fun,  took 
his  scoldino's  in  hio-h  p'ood  humor,  and 
shrieked  with  lauaiiter  at  their  own 
ridiculous  blunders,  to  the  high  wrath 
of  their  ancient  instructor;  who  was 
so  deeply  interested  and  in  earnest 
about  his  pursuit^  that  he  didn^t  fail 
to  lecture  them  well  for  their  ^^nsub- 
ornation ;  '^  which^  indeed,  nobody 
minded^  except  Tom  Pringle,  who^  by 
the  by,  was  from  Maryland,  and 
many  of  whose  relations  were  down 


COLONEL   FREDDY.  I7 

South.  He  had  been  lookmg  rather 
sulky  from  the  beginning  of  the  drill, 
and  now  suddenly  stepped  from  his 
place  in  the  ranks,  exclaiming,  ^'  I 
won't  play  !  now  I  vow  I  won't !  " 

^^  Why,  Tom,  what  is  the  matter  ? 
Are  you  mad  at  us?''  cried  half  a 
dozen  voices  at  once. 

^'  Humm — "  grumbled  sulkv  Tom. 

'^  What  say  ?  I  can't  hear  you," 
said  Freddy.  ^^  Nonsense,  Tom,  don't 
be  poky,  come  back  and  drill." 

^'I  won't!  Let  us  alone,  will 
vou  ?  " 

^'  All  we  want  is,  let  us  alone !  ^' 
chanted  Peter.  ^^  There,  Fred,  let  him 
be  cross  if  he  wants  to,  we  can  play 
without  him ;  "  and  the  boys  ran  back 
to  their  places  in  the  ranks,  Freddy 

n.— 2 


18  COLONEL  FREDDY. 

calling  out,  '^  Come  fellows,  let's  try 
that  old  parade  rest  once  more ; ''  and 
on  Jerry's  giving  the  command,  they 
really  did  do  it  this  time,  and  were 
pronounced  capable  of  passing  to 
grander  evolutions. 

The  first  of  these  was  the  turn 
about  so  as  to  fall  in  ranks;  some- 
thing the  Dashahed  Zouaves  hadn't 
dreamt  of  before.  Get  into  ranks? 
Nothing  could  be  easier  than  to  stand 
four  in  a  row,  as  they  had  done  be- 
fore ;  but  when  it  came  to  ^*  right 
face/'  most  of  the  soldiers  were  found 
to  have  opposite  views  on  the  subject, 
and  faced  each  other,  to  their  mutual 
astonishment.  The  natural  conse- 
quence was,  that  in  three  seconds  the 
regiment   was   in   such   a   snarl    and 


COLONEL  FREDDY.  19 

huddle,  that  no  one  could  tell  T^hich 
rank  he  belonged  to  or  anything  else ; 
so  Jerry,  perfectly  purple  in  the  face 
Avith  shouting,  by  way  of  helping  them 
out  of  the  scrape,  gave  them  the  fol- 
lowing remarkable  advice :  ^^  Squad, 
^shun !  At  th'  wud  ^  Foz  ^  the  rer-rank 
will  stepsmartly  off  wi'  th'  leflfut, 
tekkinapesstoth'  rare — Fo-o-o-res !  ^^ 

^'  W-h-a-t !  ^'  was  the  unanimous 
exclamation. 

Jerry  repeated  his  mandate^  which, 
after  infinite  puzzling  (the  honest  ser- 
geant being  no  assistance  whatever), 
was  discovered  to  mean,  ^^At  the 
word  '  Fours,^  the  rear  rank  will  step 
smartly  off  with  the  left  foot,  taking  a 
pace  to  the  rear.     Fours  !  ^' 

This    difficulty   solved,    the    next 


20  COLOXEL  FREDDY. 

^^  article  on  tlie  programme/'  as  Peter 
said,  was  the  command  March !  or 
^^harch  !  ^^  according  to  Jerry. 

Out  stepped  Freddy,  confident  that 
he  knew  this  much  at  any  rate,  fol- 
lowed by  the  others ;  but  here  again 
that  celebrated  left  foot  got  them  into 
trouble.  The  right  foot  tcould  pop  out 
here  and  there,  and  as  sure  as  it  did, 
at  the  third  step  the  unlucky  Zouave 
found  his  leg  firmly  stuck  between  the 
ankles  of  the  boy  in  front;  and  the 
^^man^^  behind  him  treading  on  his 
heels  in  a  way  calculated  to  aggravate 
a  saint ;  while  meantime,  the  fellows 
in  the  rear  rank,  who  were  forever 
fallino;  behind  while  thev  were  starino; 
at  their  feet  to  make  sure  which  was 
the  left  one,  icould  endeavor  to  make 


COLONEL  FREDDY.  21 

lip  for  it  by  taking  a  T\'ide  straddling 
step  all  of  a  sudden,  and  encircled  the 
legs  of  people  in  front ;  a  proceeding 
which^  not  being  in  accordance  with 
''  Hardee's  Tactics/'  was  not  received 
with  approbation  by  Jerry;  who, 
looking  at  them  with  a  sort  of  depre- 
cating pity,  hoarsely  said,  ^^Now, 
Company  D  !  wot — wrong  agin  ? 
fowod  squad !  wun,  too,  three,  foore ; 
hup !  hup !  hup !  hold  your  head  up, 
Mr.  Fred ;  turn  out  your  toes.  Master 
William,  and  keep  steady  !  " 

^'  Goody  ! ''  exclaimed  Freddy  at 
last,  stopping  short  in  the  middle  of 
his  marching,  '^  I  can't  stand  this  any 
longer !  There,  Jerry,  we've  had  drill 
enough,  thank  you;  I  am  knocked 
into  a  cocked  hat,  for  my  part !  '^ 


22  COLONEL  FREDDY. 

a  Very  well;  sir ;  it  is  powerful 
hot ;  an'  I  must  say  you  young  geuF- 
men  have  kep'  at  it  steadier  nor  I  ex- 
pected, a  gred  deal/' 

^^  Thank  you,  Jerry/'  said  George, 
lauo'liins;,  ^^we  shall  not  foro-et  our 
first  drill  in  a  hurry.  I  can't  tell,  for 
my  part,  which  has  been  most  both- 
ered, you  or  we." 

^^Allers  glad  to  give  you  a  little 
practice/^  grinned  Jerry,  ^^  though 
you'd  rive  the  gizzard  out  of  an  army 
drill  sergeant,  I'd  wenture  to  say,  if 
he  hed  the  teachin'  of  vou.  Hech ! 
hech !  hech !  Mornin',  geul'men, 
your  sarvent,"  and  Jerry  touched  his 
cap  to  Colonel  Freddy  and  marched 
off  chuckling. 

As  soon  as  he  had  made  his  exit, 


COLONEL  FREDDY.  23 

tlie  boys  clustered  around  Tom,  as  he 
sat  turning  his  back  on  as  many  of  the 
company  as  possible,  and  all  began  in 
a  breath,  '*  Now,  Tom,  do  tell  us  what 
you're  mad  at ;  what  have  we  done  ? 
please  speak !  " 

'^  Well,  then,^^  shouted  Tom,  spring- 
ing up,  ^^  ril  tell  you  what,  Frederic 
Jourdain !  I  won't  be  ordered  around 
by  any  old  monkey  like  that,^' — ^point- 
ing toward  Jerry — ^'  and  as  for  you 
and  your  ordering  about,  I  won't  stand 
that  either !  fine  as  you  think  your- 
self; the  Colonel,  indeed  ! '' 

"Why,  Tom,  how  can  you  talk 
so  ?  can't  you  play  like  the  rest  of  us  r 
I'm  sure  I  haven't  taken  advantage 
of  being  Colonel  to  be  domineering; 
have  I,  boys  ?  " 


24:  C0L0:N^EL  FREDDY. 

'^  Xo,  no  !  not  a  bit^  Fred — never 
mind  what  he  says !  ^^ 

^^  Oh  do — clont  appeal  to  them  ! 
Toil  do  that  because  you  daren't  say 
outright  you  mean  to  have  everything 
your  own  way.  That  may  be  very 
well  for  them — you're  all  a  parcel  of 
Yankee  shopkeepers  together — but,  I 
can  tell  you,  no  Southern  gentleman 
will  stand  it ! '' 

^^  North  or  South,  Tom;"  began 
Will  Gostar,  pretty  sharply,  ^^  every 
regiment  must  have  a  head — and  obey 
the  head.  We've  chosen  Fred  our 
Colonel,  and  you  must  mind  him. 
When  he  tells  you  to  drill  you've  got 
to  do  it  r' 

Tom  wheeled  round  perfectly  furi- 
ous.   ^'  You  say  that  again,"  he  shout- 


COLONEL  FREDDY.  25 

cd,  ^^incl  ril  leave  the  regiment!  I 
Avill.  I  won't  be  told  by  any  North- 
erner that  I'm  his  subordinate,  and 
if  my  State  hadn't  thought  so  too, 
she'd  never  have  left  the  Union/' 

^'  What !  you  dare  to  say  anything 
against  the  Union !  "  cried  George, 
turning  white  with  rage ;  ^^  do  you 
mean  to  say  that  you  admire  the 
South  for  secedino'  ?  '^ 

^^  Yes !  I've  a  o'reat  mind  to  secede 
myself,  what's  more  !  ^' 

Freddy,  as  I  said,  w^as  as  sweet- 
tempered  a  little  fellow  as  ever  lived ; 
but  he  was  fairly  aroused  now.  His 
blue  eves  flashed  fire  ;  he  crimsoned  to 
the  temples ;  his  fists  were  clenched — 
and  shouting,  ^^you  traitor !''  like  a 
flash,  he  sent  Tom  flying  over  on  his 


26  COLONEL  FREDDY. 

back^  with  the  camp  stool  about  his 
ears. 

Up  jumped  Tom^  kicked  away  the 
stool,  and  rushed  toward  Fred.  But 
the  others  were  too  quick  for  him; 
they  seized  his  arms  and  dragged  him 
back;  Peter  calling  out  ^^No,  don't 
fight  him^  Colonel ;  he's  not  worth  it ; 
let's  have  a  court  martial — that's  the 
way  to  serve  traitors  !  " 

Amid  a  perfect  uproar  of  rage  and 
contempt  for  this  shameful  attack  on 
their  Colonel,  the  Zouaves  hastily  ar- 
ranged some  camp  stools  forjudge  and 
jury;  and  George  being  chosen  judge, 
the  oldest  members  of  the  regiment 
took  their  places  around  him,  and 
Tom  was  hauled  up  before  the  Court. 

"  Oh  stop,  pray  stop !  "  cried  Fred- 


COLONEL  FREDDY.  27 

dy  at  this  stage  of  affairs.  "•  Indeed,  I 
forgive  him  for  what  he  said  to  me,  if 
he  will  take  back  his  language  about 
the  Union.     I  can't  stand  that'' 

''  You  hear  what  the  Colonel  says," 
said  George,  sternly;  ''will  you  re- 
tract ? '' 

"No,  never!  if  you  think  Fm  go- 
ino;  to  be  frightened  into  submission 
to  a  Northerner  you're  very  much 
mistaken!  No  Southerner  will  ever 
be  that!  and  as  for  your  precious 
Union,  I  don't  care  if  I  say  I  hope 
there  never  will  be  a  Union  any  more.'' 

''Then,  by  George !  "  shouted  the 
judge,  fairly  springing  from  his  seat, 
"  You're  a  traitor,  sir !  FelloAvs,  who- 
ever is  in  favor  of  having  this  seces- 
sionist put  under  arrest,  say  Aye  !  " 


-28  COLOXEL  FREDDY. 

•  ^'Aye!  aye!  AYE!''  in  a  perfect 
roar. 

"  Does  any  one  object  ?  '^  Nobody 
spoke. 

"  Then  I  sentence  him  to  be  con- 
fined in  the  guard  house  till  he  begs 
pardon  ;  Livingston,  Costar^  and  Boor- 
man  to  take  him  there.'' 

His  captors  pounced  upon  their 
prisoner  with  very  little  ceremony 
when  this  sentence  was  pronounced; 
when  Tom,  without  attempting  to 
escape^  suddenly  commenced  striking- 
out  at  every  one  he  could  reach.  A 
grand  hurley-burley  ensued;  but  be- 
fore long  Tom  was  overpowered  and 
dragged  to  the  smoke,  alias  guard 
house ;  heaping  insults  and  taunts  on 
the  Union  and  the  regiment  all  the 


COLONEL  FREDDY.  29 

way.  Harry  flung  open  the  door  of 
the  prison,  a  picturesque  little  luit 
built  of  rough  gray  stone,  and  covered 
with  Virginia  creepers  and  wild  honey- 
suckles. The  others  pushed  Tom  in, 
and  Peter,  dashing  forward,  slammed 
the  door  on  him  with  a  bang.  Snap ! 
went  the  bolt,  and  now  nothing  earth- 
ly could  open  it  again  but  a  Bramah 
key  or  a  gunpowder  explosion. 
Youno-  Secession  was  fast,  and  the 
North  triumphant.     Hurrah ! 


CHAPTER  II. 

BULL    RUN. 

Their  first  excitement  over,  the 
gaUaut  Zouaves  couldn't  help  looking 
at  each  other  in  rather  a  comical  way. 
To  be  sure,  it  was  very  aggravating  to 
have  their  country  run  clown,  and 
themselves  assailed  without  leave  or 
license ;  but  they  were  by  no  means 
certain,  now  thev  came  to  think  of  it, 
that  they  had  acted  rightly  in  doing- 
justice  to  the  little  rebel  in  such  a 
summary  manner.  Peter  especially, 
who  had  proposed  the  court  martial, 


COLONEL  FREDDY  31 

had  an  instinctive  feeling  that  if  his 
father  were  to  learn  the  action  they 
had  taken,  he  would  scarcely  consider 
it  to  tally  with  the  exercise  of  strict 
politeness  to  company.  In  short,  with- 
out a  word  said,  there  was  a  tacit 
understanding  in  the  corps  that  this 
was  an  affair  to  be  kept  profoundly 
secret. 

While  they  were  still  silently  re- 
volving this  delicate  question,  little 
Louie  Hamilton  suddenly  started  vio- 
lently, exclaiming,  ^^  Only  listen  a  mo- 
ment, felloth  !  what  a  strange  noithe  ! 
It  sounds  like  thome  wild  beast !  " 

'^  Noise  ?  I  don't  hear  anv,''  said 
Freddy ;  ''  yes  I  do,  though — like 
something  trampling  the  bushes  !  ^^ 

''  There's  nothing  worse  than  four 


32  COLONEL  FREDDY. 

coTvs  and  a  house  dog  about  our 
place/'  said  Peter ;  ^^  but  what  that  is 
I  don't  know — ^liush  !  '^ 

The  boys  hstened  with  all  their 
ears  and  elbows^  and  nearly  stared 
themselves  blind  looking  around  to  see 
what  was  the  matter.  They  had  not 
long  to  wait^  however^  for  the  tramp- 
ling increased  in  the  wood^  a  curious, 
low  growling  was  heard^  which  pres- 
ently swelled  to  a  roar,  and  in  a  mo- 
ment  more^  an  immense  brindled  bull 
w^as  seen  dashing  through  the  locusts, 
his  head  down  and  heels  in  the 
air^  looking  not  unlike  a  great  wheel- 
barrow, bellowing  at  a  prodigious 
rate,  and  making  straight  toAvard  the 
place  where  they  stood ! 

^^  Murder,  what  shall  we  do  V^  cried 


COLONEL   FREDDY.  33 

Louie,  turning  deadly  pale  with  ter- 
ror, while  the  Zouaves,  for  an  instant, 
appeared  perfectly  paralyzed. 

''Why  run!  run  for  your  lives!'' 
shouted  George,  who  was  the  first  to 
recover  himself  ^'  Peter,  you  lead  the 
way ;  take  us  the  shortest  cut  to  the 
house,  and — oh  !  " 

Not  another  word  did  George  ut- 
ter. He  was  saving  his  breath  for  the 
race.  And  now,  indeed,  began  a  most 
prodigious  ''  skedaddle ; ''  the  boys  al- 
most flying  on  ahead,  running  nearly 
abreast,  and  their  terrible  enemy  close 
behind,  tearing  up  the  ground  with 
his  horns,  and  galloping  like  an  ex- 
press ! 

On  sped  the  gallant  Zouaves,  mak- 
ing off  as  rapidly  from  the  scene  of  ac- 

II.— 3 


34  COLOXEL  FREDDY. 

tion  as  tlicir  namesakes  from  ^lanas- 
sas^  T\"ithoiit  pausing  to  remark  ^vliicli 
way  the  wind  blew,  imtil,  at  last,  tliey 
had  skirted  the  grove,  and  were  on 
the  straight  road  for  the  house.  Here 
Peter  stoj^ped  a  moment,  ''  Because 
some  of  the  men  will  be  near  here, 
23erhaps,^'  he  pantingly  said,  ^^and 
Master  Bull  will  be  caught  if  he  ven- 
tures after  us."^  Scarcely  had  he 
spoken,  when  the  furious  animal  was 
once  more  seen,  dashing  on  faster  than 
ever,  and  flaming  with  rage,  till  he 
might  have  exploded  a  powder  mill ! 
Now  for  a  last  eflfort !  One  deter- 
mined burst  over  the  smooth  road, 
and  they  are  safe  in  the  house  ! 

Little   Louie,   who  was  only  nine 
years  old,   and  the  youngest  of  the 


COLONEL   FREDDY.  85 

party,  had  grasped  hold  of  Freddy's 
hand  when  they  first  started;  and 
been  half  pulled  along  by  him  so  far ; 
but  now  that  safety  was  close  at  hand, 
he  suddenly  sank  to  the  ground, 
moaning  out,  ''  Oh  Fred,  you  must  go 
on  and  leave  me;  I  can't  run  any 
more.     Oh  mamma  !  " 

'  No,  no,  Louie  !  don't  do  so  !  "  cried 
Freddy.  ''Get  up,  little  man!  why, 
vou  can't  think  I  would  leave  you, 
surely?"  and,  stooping  down,  the 
brave  little  fellow  caught  Louie  up  in 
his  arms,  and,  thus  burdened,  tried  to 
run  on  toward  the  house. 

The  rest  of  the  bovs  were  now  far 
beyond  them;  and  had  just  placed 
their  feet  upon  the  doorstone,  wdien  a 
loud   shout   of  ''help!"    made  them 


36  COLOXEL  FREDDY. 

turn  round ;  and  there  was  Freddy, 
with  Louie  in  his  arms,  staggering  up 
the  road,  the  horns  of  the  ball  within 
a  yard  of  his  side  ! 

Like  a  flash  of  lio'litnins;,  Will 
snatched  up  a  large  rake  which  one 
of  the  men  had  left  lying  on  the  grass, 
and  dashed  down  the  road.  There  is 
one  minute  to  spare,  just  one !  but  in 
that  minute  Will  has  reached  the 
spot,  and  launching  his  weapon,  the 
iron  points  descend  heavily  on  the 
animal's  head. 

The  bull,  rather  aghast  at  this  re- 
ception, which  did  not  appear  to  be  at 
all  to  his  taste,  seemed  to  hesitate  a 
moment  whether  to  charge  his  adver- 
sary or  not ;  then,  with  a  low  growl 


COLONEL   FKEDDY  3T 

of  baffled  fuiy,  he  slowly  turned  away, 
and  trotted  off  toward  the  Avood. 

The  help  had  not  come  a  mmute 
too  soon;  for  Freddy,  his  sensitive  or- 
ganization completely  overwrought  by 
the  events  of  the  morning  and  his 
narrow  escape  from  death,  had  fallen 
fainting  to  the  ground ;  his  hands  still 
clenched  in  the  folds  of  little  Louie's 
jacket.  Will  instantly  raised  him, 
Avhen  he  saw^  that  all  danger  was  over, 
and  he  and  some  of  the  others,  who 
had  come  crowding  down  the  road, 
very  gently  and  quickly  carried  the 
insensible  boy  to  the  house,  and  laid 
him  on  the  lounge  in  the  library; 
while  Peter  ran  for  the  housekeeper 
to  aid  in  bringing  him  to  life. 

Good  Mrs.  Lockitt  hurried  up  stairs 


38  COLONEL  FREDDY. 

as  fast  as  she  could  with  camphor,  ice 
water^  and  everything  else  she  could 
think  of  good  for  fainting. 

''  Mrs.  Lockitt,  where  is  papa  ?  '' 
asked  Peter^  as  he  ran  on  beside  her. 

^^  Gone  to  New  York,  Master  Pe- 
ter/^ she  replied ;  ''  I  don't  think  he 
will  be  home  before  dinner  timc.'^ 

Our  little  scapegrace  breathed 
more  freely ;  at  least  there  were  a  few 
hours'  safety  from  detection,  and  he 
reentered  the  library  feeling  consider- 
ably relieved. 

There  lay  Colonel  Freddy,  his  face 
white  as  death ;  one  little  hand  han^:- 
ing  lax  and  pulseless  over  the  side  of 
the  lounge,  and  the  ruffled  shirt  thrust 
aside  from  the  broad,  snowy  chest. 
Harry  stood   over   him,    fanning   his 


COLO^TEL  FREDDY.  39 

forehead ;  while  poor  Louie  was 
crouched  in  a  corner,  sobbing  as 
though  his  heart  would  break,  and  the 
others  stood  looking  on  as  if  they  did 
not  know  what  to  do  with  themselves. 

Mrs.  Lockitt  hastened  to  apply  her 
remedies ;  and  soon  a  faint  color  came 
back  to  the  cheeky  and  with  a  long 
sigh,  the  great  blue  eyes  opened  once 
more,  and  the  little  patient  murmured, 
^'Whereaml?" 

^^Oh,  then  he's  not  killed,  after 
all ! ''  cried  Louie,  running  to  his  side. 
'^Dcar,  dear  Freddy!  how  glad  I  am 
you  have  come  to  life  again !  " 

This  funny  little  speech  made  even 
Freddy  laugh,  and  then  Mrs.  Lockitt 
said,  '•  But,  Master  Peter,  you  have 
not   told   me   yet    how    it    happened 


40  COLONEL  FPwEDDY. 

that  Master  Frederic  got  in   such  a 
way." 

The  eyes  of  the  whole  party  be- 
came round  and  saucer-y  at  once ;  as, 
all  talking  together,  they  began  the 
history  of  their  fearful  adventure. 
Mrs.  Lockitt's  wiry  false  curls  would 
certainly  have  dropped  off  with  as- 
tonishment if  they  hadn't  been  sewed 
fast  to  her  cap,  and  she  fairly  wiped 
her  eyes  on  her  spectacle  case,  which 
she  had  taken  out  of  her  pocket  in- 
stead of  her  handkerchief^  as  they 
described  Freddy's  noble  effort  to  save 
his  helpless  companion  without  think- 
ing of  himself.  When  the  narrative 
was  brought  to  a  close,  she  could  only 
exclaim,  ^^Well,  Master  Freddy,  you 
are  a  little  angel,  sure  enough!  and 


COLONEL  FREDDY.  41 

Master  Willicim  is  as  brave  as  a  lion. 
To  tliiuk  of  his  stopping  that  great 
creetur,  to  be  sure  !  Wherever  in  the 
world  it  came  from  is  the  mystery/'' 
So  savins:,  Mrs.  Lockitt  bustled  out 
of  the  room,  and  after  she  had  gone, 
there  was  a  very  serious  and  grateful 
talk  among  the  elder  boys  about  the 
escape  they  had  had,  and  a  sincere 
thankfulness  to  God  for  having  pre- 
served their  lives. 

The  puzzle  now  was,  how  they 
were  to  return  to  the  camp,  where 
poor  Tom  had  been  in  captivity  all 
this  time.  It  was  certainly  necessary 
to  get  back — but  then  the  bull !  While 
they  were  yet  deliberating  on  the 
horns  of  this  dilemna,  the  library  door 


42  COLONEL  FREDDY. 

suddenly  opened,  and  in  walked — Mr. 
Scliermerliorn ! 

^^  Why,  boys ! "  lie  exclaimed, 
^^  how  do  you  come  to  be  here  ?  Fred, 
w^hat's  the  matter  ?  you  look  as  pale  as 
a  ghost ! " 

There  was  general  silence  for  a 
moment ;  but  these  bovs  had  been 
taught  by  pious  parents  to  speak  the 
truth  alwavs,  whatever  came  of  it. 
Ah !  that  is  the  right  prmciple  to  go 
on,  dear  children;  Tell  the  Truth 
when  you  have  done  anything  wrong, 
even  if  you  are  sure  of  being  punished 
when  that  truth  is  known. 

So  George,  as  the  eldest,  with  one 
brave  look  at  his  comrades,  frankly 
related  everything  that  had  hap- 
pened :  beginning  at  the  quarrel  with 


COLONEL  FREDDY.  43 

Toni;  down  to  the  escape  from  the 
bull.  To  describe  the  varied  expres- 
sion of  his  auditor's  face  between  de- 
light and  vexation,  would  require  a 
painter;  and  v>'hen  George  at  last 
said,  ^^  Do  you  think  we  deserve  to  be 
punished,  sir?  or  have  we  paid  well 
enough  already  for  our  court  mar- 
tial ?  ''  Mr.  Schermerhorn  exclaimed, 
trying  to  appear  highly  incensed,  yet 
scarcely  able  to  help  smiling : 

*^  I  declare  I  hardly  know  !  I  cer- 
tainly am  terribly  angry  with  you. 
How  dare  you  treat  a  young  gentle- 
man so  on  my  place  ?  answ^er  me  that, 
you  scapegraces !  It  is  pretty  plain 
who  is  at  the  bottom  of  all  this — Pe- 
ter dares  not  look  at  me,  I  perceive. 
At  the  same  time,  I  am  rather  glad 


44  COLOXEL  FREDDY. 

that  Master  Tom  has  been  taught 
what  to  expect  if  he  runs  down  the 
Union — it  will  probably  save  him  from 
turning  traitor  any  more^  though  you 
were  not  the  proper  persons  to  pass 
sentence  on  him.  As  for  our  plucky 
little  Colonel  here — shake  hands^ 
Freddy !  you  have  acted  like  a  hero  ! 
and  for  your  sake  I  excuse  the  court 
martial.  Now,  let  us  see  Avhat  has 
become  of  the  bull,  and  then  go  to  the 
release  of  our  friend  Tom.  He  must 
be  thoroughly  repentant  for  his  mis- 
deeds by  this  time.'' 

Mr.  Schermerhorn  accordingly 
gave  orders  that  the  bull  should  be 
hunted  up  and  secured,  until  his  mas- 
ter should  be  discovered ;  so  that  the 
Zouaves  might  be  safe  from  his  at- 


COLONEL  FREDDY.  45 

tacks  hereafter.  If  any  of  our  read- 
ers feel  an  interest  in  the  fate  of  this 
charming  animal,  they  are  informed 
that  he  was,  with  great  difficulty, 
hunted  into  the  stables;  and  before 
evening  taken  away  by  his  master, 
the  farmer  from  whom  he  had 
strayed. 

Leaving  the  others  to  await  his 
capture,  let  us  return  to  Tom.  He  had 
not  been  ten  minutes  in  the  smoke 
house  before  his  wrath  beo-an  to  cool , 
and  he  would  have  given  sixpence 
for  any  way  of  getting  out  but  by 
begging  pardon.  That  was  a  httle  too 
much  just  yet,  and  Tom  stamped  with 
rage  and  shook  the  door ;  which  re- 
sisted his  utmost  efforts  to  burst.  Then 
came  the  sounds  without,  the  rushing, 


46  COLONEL  FREDDY. 

trampling  steps^  the  furious  bellow, 
and  tlie  shout,  '^  Run !  run  for  your 
lives !  '^  Run !  why  on  earth  must 
they  ?  What  had  happened  ?  and  es- 
pecially Avhat  would  become  of  him 
left  alone  there,  with  this  unseen  ene- 
my perhaps  coming  at  him  next.  He 
hunted  in  vain  in  every  direction  for 
some  cranny  to  peep  through  ;  and  if 
it  had  been  possible,  would  have 
squeezed  his  head  up  the  chimney. 
He  shouted  for  help,  but  nobody 
heard  him ;  they  were  all  too  fright- 
ened for  that.  He  could  hear  them 
crunching  along  the  road,  presently; 
another  crv,  and  then  all  was  still. 

''  What  shall  I  do  ?  ''  thought  poor 
Tom.  ^^Oh,  where  have  they  gone 
to  ?     Please  let  me  out,  Freddv !  do 


COLONEL  FREDDY.  47 

forgive  me,  boys !  Til  f-figlit  for  the 
Union  as  m-mucli  as  you  like !  oil ! 
oil !  "  and  at  last — must  it  be  con- 
fessed?— the  gallant  Secesli  finished 
by  bursting  out  crying! 

Time  passed  on — of  course  seeming 
doubly  long  to  the  prisoner — and  still 
Vr }  boYS  did  not  return.  Tom  cried 
till  he  could  cry  no  more ;  snifBino; 
desperately,  and  rubbing  his  nose  vio- 
lently up  in  the  air — a  proceeding 
which  did  not  ameliorate  its  natural 
bent  in  that  direction.  He  really  felt 
thoroughly  sorry,  and  quite  ready  to 
beg  pardon  as  soon  as  the  boys  should 
return;  particularly  as  they  had  forgot- 
ten to  provide  the  captive  with  even  the 
traditional  bread  and  water,  and  din- 
ner-time was  close  at  hand.    While  he 


48  coLO^^:L  freddy. 

was  jet  struggling  between  repentance 
and  stomachache,  the  welcome  sound 
of  their  voices  was  heard.  They  came 
nearer,  and  then  a  key  was  hastily 
applied  to  the  fastenings  of  the  door, 
and  it  flew  open,  disclosing  the  Zou- 
aves^ with  Freddy  at  the  head,  and 
Mr.  Schermerhorn  bringing  up  the 
rear. 

Tom  hung  back  a  moment  yet; 
then  with  a  sudden  impulse  he  walked 
toward  Freddy,  saying,  ^^I  beg  your 
pardon,  Colonel;  please  forgive  me  for 
insulting  you ;  and  as  for  the  flag  ^' — 
and  without  another  word,  Tom  ran 
toward  the  flag  stafi^,  and  catching  the 
long  folds  of  the  banner  in  both  hands, 
pressed  them  to  his  lips. 

"  The  chivalry  forever !  "  said  Mr. 


COLONEL  FREDDY.  49 

Scliermerliorn,  smiling.  ''  That's  right, 
Tom  !  bless  the  old  bamier !  it  is  your 
safeguard,  and  your  countrymen's  too, 
if  they  would  only  believe  it  Go  and 
shake  hands  with  him,  boys ;  he  is  in 
his  right  place  now,  and  if  ever  you 
are  tempted  to  quarrel  again,  I  am 
sure  North  and  South  will  both  re- 
member 

''  Bull  Rux\  ! '' 


II. 


CHAPTER  III. 

BEFORE     MONTEREY. 

It  is  not  necessary  to  describe  the 
particular  proceedings  of  the  Dash- 
ahed  Zouaves  during  every  day  of 
their  camp  hfe.  They  chattered, 
played,  drilled,  quarrelled  a  little  once 
in  a  T\diile,  and  made  it  up  again^  eat 
and  slept  considerably,  and  grew  sun- 
burnt to  an  astonishino-  deo-ree. 

It  was  Thui^day  morning,  the 
fourth  of  their  delightful  davs  in 
camp.    Jerry  had  been  teaching  them 


COLONEL  FREDDY.  61 

how  to  handle  a  musket  and  charge 
bayonets,  until  they  were  quite  excit- 
ed, and  rather  put  out  that  there  was 
no  enemy  to  practise  on  but  the 
grasshoppers.  At  length,  when  they 
had  tried  everything  that  was  to  be 
done,  Harry  exclaimed,  "  I  wish,  Jer- 
ry, you  would  tell  us  a  story  about 
the  wars!  Something  real  splendid, 
now ;  perfectly  crammed  with  Indians 
and  scalps  and  awful  battles  and  ele- 
gant Mexican  palaces  full  of  dia- 
monds and  gold  saucepans  and 
lovely  Spanish  girls  carried  off  by  the 
hair  of  their  heads !  ^^ 

This  flourishing  rigmarole,  which 
Harry  delivered  regardless  of  stops, 
made  the  boys  shout  with  laughter. 

''  You'd  better  tell  the  story  your- 


52  coLO^^:L  freddy. 

self,  since  you  know  so  mucli  about 
it !  ■'  said  Tom. 

^'  I  allow  you've  never  been  in 
Mexico,  sir/'  said  Jerry,  grinning.  "  I 
doubt  but  tliar's  palisses  somewhar  in 
Mexico,  but  I  and  mv  mates  liev  been 
thar,  an'  ^ve  never  seed  none  o'  'em. 
No,  Master  Harry,  I  can't  tell  ye  sich 
stories  as  that,  but  I  do  mind  a  thing 
what  happened  on  the  field  afore 
Monterey.^^ 

The  boys,  delightedly  exclaiming, 
^^  A  story !  a  story  !  hurrah  !  '^  drew 
their  camp  stools  around  him;  and 
Jerry,  after  slowly  rubbing  his  hand 
round  and  round  over  his  bristling 
chin,  while  he  considered  what  to  say 
first,  began  his  story  as  follows : 


COLONEL   FREDDY.  63 


jerry's  story. 


^^It  wor  a  Sunday  night;,  young 
genrmen,  the  21st  of  September,  and 
powerful  hot.  We  had  been  fightin^ 
hke  mad,  wi'  not  a  moment's  rest,  all 
day,  an^  now  at  last  wor  imder  the 
canwas,  they  of  us  as  wor  left  alive, 
a  tryin'  to  sleep.  The  skeeters  buzzed 
aroun'  wonderful  thick,  and  the 
groun^  aneath  our  feet  wor  like  red- 
hot  tin  plateS;  wi'  the  sun  burnin'  an 
blisterin^  down.  At  last  my  mate  Bill 
says,  says  he,  ^  Jerry,  my  mate,  hang 
me  ef  I  can  stan^  this  any  longer.  Let 
you  an^  me  get  up  an'  see  ef  it  be 
cooler  out-o'-doors.' 

^^  I  wor  tired  enou2:h  wi'  the  dav's 
fight,  an'  worrited,  too,  wi'  a  wound 


54  COLONEL  FliEDDY. 

in  my  shoulder ;  but  the  tent  wor  no 
better  nor  the  open  field,  an'  we  got 
up  an'  went  out.  Thar  wor  no  moon, 
but  the  sky  was  wonderful  full  o'  stars, 
so  we  could  see  how  we  wor  stannin' 
wd'  our  feet  among  the  bodies  o'  the 
poor  fellows  as  had  fired  their  last 
shot  that  day.  It  wor  a  sight,  young 
genFmen,  what  would  make  sich  as 
you  sick  an'  faint  to  look  on;  but 
sogers  must  larn  not  to  min'  it;  an' 
we  stood  thar,  not  thinkin'  how  awful 
it  wor,  and  yet  still  an'  quiet,  too. 

^^  ^  Ah,  Jerry,'  says  Bill — he  wor  a 
young  lad,  an'  brought  up  by  a  pious 
mother,  I  allow — ^  I  dunnot  like  this 
fio-htin'  on  the  Sabba'  day.  The  Lord 
will  not  bless  our  arms,  I'm  afeard,  if 
we  go  agin  His  will  so.' 


COLONEL   FREDDY.  55 

i'  I  laughed — more  shame  to  me — 
an'  said,  ^  I'm  a  sight  older  nor  you, 
mate,  an'  I've  seed  a  sight  o'  wictories 
got  on  a  Sunday.  The  better  the  day, 
the  better  the  deed,  I  reckon.^ 

'^ '  Well,  I  don't  know,'  he  says ; 
^  mebbe  thino's  is  allers  mixed  in  time 
o'  war,  an'  right  an'  wrong  change 
sides  a'  purpose  to  suit  them  as  wants 
battle  an'  tumult  to  be  ragin' ;  but  it 
don't  go  wi'  my  grain,  noways.^ 

"  I  hadn't  experienced  a  change  o' 
heart  then,  as  I  did  arterward,  bless 
the  Lord !  an'  I  hardly  unnerstood 
what  he  said.  While  we  wor  a  stan- 
nin'  there,  all  to  onct  too  dark  figgers 
kim  a  creepin'  over  the  field  to'ard 
the  Major's  tent.  '  Look  thar,  Jerry,' 
Avhispered  Bill,  kind  o'  startin'  like, 


56  COLONEL  FREDDY. 

^thar's  some  of  tliem  rascally  Mexi- 
cans/ I  looked  at  ^em  wi'out  sayin'  a 
wured^  an'  then  I  went  back  to  the 
tent  fur  my  six-shooter — Bill  arter  me ; 
— ^fur  ef  it  ain't  the  dooty  o'  every 
Christian  to  extarminate  them  war- 
mints  o'  Mexicans,  I'll  be  drummed 
out  of  the  army  to-morrer. 

^^Wall,  y<^^^iig  genl'men — we  tuck 
our  pistols,  and  slow  and  quiet  we 
moved  to  whar  we  seed  the  two 
Greasers,  as  they  call  'em.  On  they 
kim,  creepin'  to'ard  my  Major's  tent, 
an'  at  las'  one  o'  'em  raised  the  can- 
was  a  bit.  Bill  levelled  his  rewolver 
in  a  wink,  an'  fired.  You  shud  ha' 
seed  how  they  tuck  to  their  heels  ! 
yelling  all  the  way,  till  wun  o'  em' 
dropped.     The  other  didn't  stop,  but 


COLONEL  FREDDY.  67 

just  pulled  ahead.  I  fired  arter  him 
wi'out  touching  him;  but  the  noise 
woke  the  Major,  an'  when  he  hearn 
wot  the  matter  wor,  he  ordered  the 
alarm  to  be  sounded  an'  the  men 
turned  out.  '  It's  a  'buscade  to  catch 
us/  he  says,  '  an'  I'm  fur  being  fust  on 
the  field.' 

^^Bill  an'  I  buckled  on  our  car- 
tridge boxes,  caught  up  our  muskets, 
an'  were  soon  in  the  ranks.  On  we 
marched,  stiddy  an'  swift,  to  the  ene- 
my's fortifications  ;  an'  wen  we  were 
six  hundred  yards  distant,  kim  the 
command,  ^Double  quick.'  The  sky 
hed  clouded  up  all  of  a  suddent,  an' 
we  couldn't  see  well  where  we  wor, 
but  thar  Avas  suthin'  afore  us  like  a 
low,  black  w^all.    As  we  kim  nearer,  it 


68  COLOXEL  FREDDY. 

moved  kind  o'  cautious  like^  an'  when 
we  wor  within  musket  rauo-e,  wi'  a 
roar  hke  ten  thousand  divils^  they 
charged  forred !  Thar  wor  the  flash 
and  crack  o'  powder^  and  the  ring! 
23ing !  o'  the  bullets,  as  we  power'd 
our  shot  on  them  an'  they  on  us ;  but 
not  another  soun' ;  cr-r-r-ack  went  the 
muskets  on  every  side  agin,  an'  the 
^  rascals  wor  driven  back  a  minnit. 
^  Charge  bayonets  ! '  shouted  the  Ma- 
jor, wen  he  seed  that.  Thar  wos  a 
pause  ;  a  rush  forred ;  we  wor  met  by 
the  innimy  half  way ;  an'  then  I  hearn 
the  awfullest  o'  created  soun's — a  man's 
scream.  I  looked  roun',  an'  there  wos 
Bill,  lying  on  his  face,  struck  through 
an'  through.  Thar  wos  no  time  to 
see  to  him  then,  fur  the  men  wor  fur 


COLONEL  FREDDY.  59 

ahead  o'  me,  an'  I  heel  to  run  an'  jine 
the  rest. 

'^  We  hed  a  sharp,  quick  skirmish 
o'  it — for  ef  thar  is  a  cowardly  critter 
on  tlie  created  airth  it's  a  Greaser — 
an^  in  less  nor  half  an'  hour  wor  beat- 
in'  back  to  quarters.  When  all  wor 
quiet  agin,  I  left  my  tent,  an'  away  to 
look  fur  Bill.  I  sarched  an'  sarched 
till  my  heart  were  almost  broke,  an'  at 
last  I  cried  out,  'Oh  Bill,  my  mate, 
wliar  be  you  ? '  an'  I  hearn  a  fibble 
v'ice  say,  '  Here  I  be,  Jerry  ! ' 

'^  I  swon  !  I  wor  gladder  nor  any- 
thin  o;  wen  I  hearn  that.  I  huo-o-ed  him 
to  my  heart,  I  wor  moved  so  power- 
ful, an'  then  I  tuck  him  on  my  back, 
an   off  to  camp ;  werry  slow  an'  pa- 


60  COLONEL  FREDDY. 

tient,  fur  he  were  sore  Tvownded,  an' 
the  life  in  him  wery  low. 

""Wall,  young  genrmen,  I'll  not 
weary  you  wi'  the  long  hours  as 
dragged  by  afore  mornin'.  I  med  him 
as  snug  as  I  could,  and  at  daybreak 
we  hed  him  took  to  the  sugeon^s 
tent. 

"  I  wor  on  guard  all  that  morning 
an'  could  not  o-et  to  my  lad ;  but  at 
last  the  relief  kim  romi\  an'  the  man 
as  was  to  take  my  place  says,  says  he, 
'  Jerry,  my  mate,  ef  I  was  you  I'd  go 
right  to  the  hosp'tl  an'  stay  by  poor 
Bill '  (fur  they  all  knew  as  I  sot  gret 
store  by  him) ;  '  He  is  werry  wild  in  his 
head,  I  hearn,  an'  the  sugeon  says  as 
how  he  can't  last  lon^-.' 

^^Ye   may   b'lieye   how   my  hairt 


COLONEL   FREDDY.  (Jl 

jumped  wen  I  hearn  that.  I  laid 
down  my  gun,  an'  ran  fur  the  wooden 
shed,  which  were  all  the  place  they 
hed  fur  them  as  was  wownded.  An' 
thar  wor  Bill — my  mate  Bill — laying 
on  a  blanket  spred  on  the  floore,  wi' 
his  clothes  all  on  (fur  it's  a  hard  bed, 
an'  his  own  bloody  uniform,  that  a 
sojer  must  die  in),  wi'  the  corpse  o' 
another  poor  fellow  as  had  died  all 
alone  in  the  night  a  most  touching- 
him,  an'  slopped  wi'  blood.  I  moved 
it  fur  away  all  in  a  trimble  o'  sorrer, 
an'  kivered  it  decent  like,  so  as  Bill 
mightn't  see  it  an'  get  downhearted 
fur  hisself.  Then  I  went  an'  sot  down 
aside  my  mate.  He  didn't  know  me, 
no  more  nor  if  I  wor  a  stranger ;  but 
kept   throwin'    his   arms    about,    an' 


62  COLONEL  FREDDY. 

moaniii'  out  continual^  ^  Oh  mother ! 
mother  !  Why  dou't  you  come  to  your 
boy?^ 

'^  I  bust  right  out  crymg,  I  do  own, 
wen  I  hearn  that,  an'  takin'  his  han' 
in  mine,  I  tried  to  quiet  him  down  a 
bit;  tehing  him  it  wor  bad  fur  his 
wownd  to  be  so  res'less  (fur  every 
time  he  tossed,  thar  kim  a  httle  leap 
o'  blood  from  his  breast) ;  an'  at  last, 
about  foore  o'clock  in  the  day,  he 
opened  his  eyes  quite  sensible  like,  an' 
says  to  me,  he  says,  '  Dear  matey,  is 
that  you  ?  Thank  you  fur  comino-  to 
see  me  afore  I  die.' 

'' '  No,  Bill,  don't  talk  so/  I  says, 
a  strivin'  to  be  cheerful  like,  tho'  I 
seed  death  in  his  face,  '  You'll  be  well 
afore  long.' 


COLONEL  FREDDY.  63 

'^^Aye,  ta'gII  in  heaven/  lie  says; 
and  tlicn,  arter  a  minnit,  ^  Jerry/  he 
says,  ^  thar's  a  httle  bounty  money  as 
belongs  to  me  in  my  knapsack,  an'  my 
month's  wao-es.  I  want  you,  wen  I  am 
gone,  to  take  it  to  my  mother,  an'  tell 
her — '  (he  wor  gaspin'  fearful) — ^as  I 
died — fightin'  fur  my  country — an'  the 
flag.  God  bless  you,  Jerry — you  hev 
been  a  good  frien'  to  me,  an'  I  knows 
as  you'll  do  this — an'  bid  the  boys 
good-by — fur  me.' 

''  I  promised,  wi'  the  tears  stream- 
in'  down  my  cheeks ;  an'  then  we  w^or 
quiet  a  bit,  fur  it  hurt  Bill's  breast  to 
talk,  an'  I  could  not  say  a  wured  fur 
the  choke  in  my  throat.  Arter  a 
while  he  says,  ^  Jerry,  won't  you  sing 
me  the  hymn  as  I  taught  you  aboard 


64  COLONEL  FREDDY. 

the   transport?    about  the   Lord  our 
Captiu  ? ' 

'''  I  could  hardly  find  v'ice  to  begin, 
but  it  wor  Bill's  dying  wish,  an'  I  made 
shift  to  sing  as  well  as  I  could — 

"  '  TVe  air  marcliin'  on  together 

To  our  etarnal  rest ; 
Niver  askin'  "why  we're  ordered — 

For  the  Lord  He  knoweth  best. 
Christ  is  our  Captain  ! 

'  Forred  !  '  is  His  word  ; 
Ranks  all  steady,  muskets  ready, 

In  the  army  o'  the  Lord  1 

**  *  Satan's  hosts  are  all  aroun*  us, 

An'  strive  to  enter  in  ; 
But  our  outworks  they  are  stronger 

Nor  the  dark  brigades  o'  sin  ! 
Christ  is  our  Fortress  ! 

Righteousness  our  sword ; 
Truth  the  standard — in  the  vanguard-— 

C  the  armv  o'  the  Lord ! 


COLONEL  FREDDY.  QS 

"  *  Comrad.^,  we  air  ever  fightin' 

A  battle  fur  the  right ; 
Ever  on  the  on'ard  movement 

Fur  our  home  o'  peace  an'  hght. 
Christ  is  our  Leader  ! 

Heaven  our  reward, 
Comin'  nearer,  shinin'  clearer — 

In  the  army  o'  the  Lord ! ' 

''  Arter  I  lied  sung  the  hymn — an' 
it  wor  all  I  could  do  to  get  through 
— Bill  seemed  to  be  a  sight  easier. 
He  lay  still,  smilin'  like  a  child  on  the 
mother's  breast.  Pretty  soon  arter, 
the  Major  kim  in;  an'  wen  he  seed 
Bill  lookin'  so  peaceful,  he  says,  says 
he,  ^Why,  cheer  up,  my  lad!  the 
sugeon  sayd  as  how  you  wor  in  a  bad 
way ;  but  you  look  finely  now ; ' — fur 
he  didn't  know  it  wor  the  death  look 
coming  over  him.     ^You'll  be  about 

II. — 5 


66  COLOXEL  FREDDY. 

soon/  says  the  Major^  '^an'  figlitin'  fur 
the  flag  as  brave  as  ever/ 

'^Bill  didn't  say  nothino- — he 
seemed  to  be  gettmg  wild  agin ; — an^ 
looked  stupid  like  at  our  Major  till  he 
hearn  the  wureds  about  the  flag.  Then 
he  caught  his  breath  suddint  like^  an', 
afore  we  could  stop  him,  he  had 
sprang  to  his  feet — shakin'  to  an'  fro 
like  a  reed — but  as  straio:ht  as  he  ever 
vrov  on  parade  ;  an',  his  v'ice  all  hoarse 
an'  full  o'  death,  an'  his  arm  in  the 
air,  he  shouted,  ^  Aye  !  God — bless — 
the— flag !  we'll  fight  fur  it  till—'  an' 
then  we  hearn  a  sort  o'  snap,  an'  he 
fell  forred — dead ! 

''  We  buried  him  that  nioht,  I  an' 
my  mates.  I  cut  off  a  lock  o'  his 
hair  fur  his  poor  mother,  afore  vre  put 


COLONEL   FREDDY.  67 

the  airtli  over  him ;  an^  giv  it  to  hei'j 
■wi'  poor  Bill's  money,  faithful  an'  true^ 
wen  we  kim  home.  I've  lived  to  be 
an  old  man  since  then,  an'  see  the 
Major  go  afore  me,  as  I  hoped  to 
sarve  till  my  dyin^  day;  but  Lord 
willin',  I  shel  go  next,  to  win  the  Sal- 
wation  as  I've  fitten  for^  by  Bill's  side, 
a  sojer  in  Christ's  army^  in  the  Etar- 
nal  Jerusalem !  '^ 

The  boys  took  a  long  breath  when 
Jerry  had  finished  his  story,  and  more 
than  one  bright  eye  was  filled  with 
tears.  The  rough  words,  and  plain, 
impolished  manner  of  the  old  soldier, 
only  heightened  the  impression  made 
by  his  story  ;  and  as  he  rose  to  go 
away,  evidently  much  moved  by  the 


68  COLOXEL  FREDDY. 

painful  recollections  it  excited^  there 
Tv^as  a  hearty^  ^^  Thank  you,  sergeant, 
for  your  story — it  was  real  good !  " 
Jerry  only  touched  his  cap  to  the 
young  soldiers,  and  marched  off  has- 
tily, while  the  boys  looked  after  him 
in  respectful  silence.  But  young  spir- 
its soon  recover  from  gloomy  influ- 
ences, and  in  a  few  moments  they  were 
all  chattering  merrily  again. 

^^What  a  pity  we  must  go  home 
Monday  !  "  cried  Louie  ;  ^^  I  wish  we 
could  camp  out  forever !  Oh,  Freddy, 
do  write  a  letter  to  General  McClellan, 
and  ask  him  to  let  us  join  the  army 
right  away !  Tell  him  we^ll  buy  some 
new  india-rubber  back-bones  and 
stretch  ourselves  out  big  directly,  if 
he^ll  only  send  right  on  for  us !  ^^ 


COLONEL  FREDDY.  C9 

^^  Perhaps  he  would,  if  he  knew 
how  jolly  we  can  drill  already !  "  said 
Peter,  laughing.  ''I  tell  you  what, 
boys,  the  very  thing !  let's  have  a  re- 
view before  we  go  home.  I'll  ask  all 
the  boys  and  girls  I  know  to  come 
and  look  on,  and  we  might  have 
quite  a  grand  entertainment.  Won't 
that  be  splendid?  We  can  march 
about  all  over,  and  fire  off  the  cannons 
and  everything !  I'm  sure  father  will 
let  us.'' 

''  Yes,  but  how's  General  McClellan 
to  hear  anything  about  it  ? ''  inquired 
practical  Louie. 

''  Why — I  don't  know,"  said  Peter, 
rather  taken  aback  by  this  view  of 
the  subject.    ''Well,  somehow — never 


70  COLOXEL  FREDDY. 

mind,  it  will  be  grand  fun,  and  I  mean 
to  ask  my  father  right  away/' 

^^  Take  me  with  you  ?  "   called   a 
dozen  fellows  directly.    Finally  it  was 

concluded  that  it  mia'ht  make  more 

< - 

impression  on  Mr.  Schermerhorn's 
mind,  if  the  application  came  from 
the  regiment  in  a  body;  so,  running 
for  their  swords  and  guns,  officers  and 
men  found  their  places  in  the  battal- 
ion, and  the  grand  procession  started 
on  its  way — chattering  all  the  time,  in 
utter  defiance  of  that  ^^  article  of  war '' 
which  forbids  ^'  talkins;  in  the  ranks.'' 
Just  as  they  were  passing  the  lake, 
they  heard  carriage  wheels  crunching 
on  the  gravel,  and  drew  up  in  a  long 
line  on  the  other  side  of  the  road  to 
let  the  vehicle  pass  them;    much  to 


COLONEL  FREDDY.  71 

the  astonishment  of  two  pretty  young 
hidics  and  a  sweet  Uttle  girl;  about 
Freddy's  age,  who  were  leaning  com- 
fortably back  in  the  handsome  ba- 
rouche. 

^'  Why,  Peter !  ^'  exclaimed  one  of 
the  ladies,  ^^  what  in  the  world  is  all 
this  ? '' 

'^  This !  ^^  cried  Peter,  running  up  to 
the  carriage,  ^^why,  these  are  the 
Dashahed  Zouaves,  Miss  Carlton. 
We  have  been  in  camp  ever  since 
Monday.  Good  morning,  Miss  Jessie,^^ 
to  the  little  girl  on  the  front  seat,  w^ho 
Avas  looking  on  wdth  deep  interest. 

^^  Oh,  to  be  sure,  I  remember,'^  said 
Miss  Carlton,  laughing;  ^^come,  in- 
troduce the  Zouaves,  Peter;  we  are 
wild  to  know"  them !  " 


72  COLO:^^EL  FFwEDDY. 

The  boys  clustered  eagerly  about 
the  carriage  and  a  lively  chat  took 
place.  The  Zouaves,  some  blushing  and 
bashful,  others  frank  and  confident, 
and  all  desperately  in  love  already  with 
pretty  httle  Jessie,  related  in  high  glee 
their  adventures — except  the  cele- 
brated court  martial — and  enlarged 
gloTvingly  upon  the  all-ilnportant  sub- 
ject of  the  grand  review. 

Colonel  Freddy,  of  course,  played 
a  prominent  part  in  all  this,  and  with 
his  handsome  face,  bright  eyes,  and 
frank,  gentlemanly  ways,  needed  only 
those  poor  lost  curls  to  be  a  perfect 
picture  of  a  soldier.  He  chattered 
away  with  ]\Iiss  Lucy,  the  second  sis- 
ter, and  obtained  her  special  promise 
that  she  would  plead  their  cause  with 


COLONEL  FREDDY.  73 

Mr.  Sclicrmerliorn  in  case  the  united 
petitions  of  the  corps  should  fail.  The 
young  ladies  did  not  know  of  Mrs. 
Schermerhorn's  departure,  but  Freddy 
and  Peter  together  coaxed  them  to 
come  up  to  the  house  '^  anyhow.'^  The 
carriage  was  accordingly  taken  into 
the  procession,  and  followed  it  meekly 
to  the  house ;  the  Zouaves  insisting  on 
being  escort,  much  to  the  terror  of 
the  young  ladies;  who  were  in  con- 
stant apprehension  that  the  rear  rank 
and  the  horses  might  come  to  kicks — 
not  to  say  blows — and  the  embarrass- 
ment of  the  coachman ;  who,  as  they 
were  constantly  stopping  unexpectedly 
to  turn  round  and  talk,  didn't  know 
'^  where  to  have  them,''  as  the  saying- 
is.     However,  they  reached  their  des- 


74  COLONEL  FREDDY. 

tination  in  safety  before  long,  and 
found  Mr.  Schermerliorn  seated  on  the 
piazza.  He  hastened  forward  to  meet 
them,  with  the  cordial  greeting  of  an 
old  friend. 

^^Well,  old  bachelor/'  said  Miss 
Carlton,  gayly,  as  the  young  ladies  as- 
cended the  steps,  ^'you  see  we  have 
come  to  visit  you  in  state,  with  the 
military  escort  befitting  patriotic 
vouno;  ladies  who  have  four  brothers 
on  the  Potomac.  What  has  become 
of  Madame,  please  ?  ^' 

^'  Gone  to  Niagara  and  left  me  a 
'  lone  lorn  creetur ; '  ^'  said  Mr.  Scher- 
merliorn, laughing.  ^^  Basely  deserted 
me  when  my  farming  couldn't  be  left. 
But  how  am  I  to  account  for  the  pres- 
ence of  the  military,  mademoiselle  ?  '^ 


COLONEL  FREDDY.  75 

^'  Really,  I  beg  their  pardons/^  ex- 
claimed Miss  Carlton.  ''They  have 
come  on  a  special  deputation  to  you, 
Mr.  Schermerhorn,  so  pray  don't  let 
us  interrupt  business." 

Thus  apostrophised,  the  boys 
scampered  eagerly  up  the  steps ;  and 
Freddy,  a  little  bashful,  but  looking 
as  bright  as  a  button,  delivered  the 
followino'  brief  oration  :  ''  Mr.  Scher- 
merhorn:  I  want — that  is,  the  boys 
want — I  mean  we  all  want — to  have  a 
grand  review  on  Saturday,  and  ask 
our  friends  to  look  on.  Will  you  let 
us  do  it,  please  ?  ^^ 

''Certainly,  with  the  greatest 
pleasure  !  '^  rephed  Mr.  Schermerhorn, 
smilino' ;  ''  but  what  will  become  of 
you  good  people  when  I  tell  you  that 


76  COLONEL  FREDDY. 

I  have  just  received  a  letter  from  Mrs. 
Scliermerliorn,  asking  me  to  join  her 
this  week  instead  of  next^  and  bring 
Peter  with  me.^^ 

^^  Oh  !  father,  please  let  me  stay  ! '' 
interrupted  Peter ;  ^^  can't  you  tell 
ma  IVe  joined  the  army  for  the  war? 
We  all  want  to  stay  like  everything  !  '^ 

^^  And  forage  for  yourselves  ?  '^  said 
his  father,  laughing.  ^^  Xo,  the  army 
must  give  you  up,  and  lose  a  valuable 
member,  Master  Peter;  but  just  have 
the  goodness  to  listen  a  moment.  The 
review  shall  take  place,  but  as  the 
camp  will  have  to  break  up  on  Satur- 
day instead  of  Monday,  as  I  had  in- 
tended, the  performances  must  come 
off  to-morrow.  Does  that  suit  your 
ideas  ? '' 


COLONEL  FREDDY.  77 

The  boys  gave  a  delighted  consent 
to  this  arrangement,  and  now  the  only 
thing  which  dampened  their  enjoy- 
ment was  the  prospect  of  such  a 
speedy  end  being  put  to  their  camp 
hfe.  ''  Confound  it !  what  was  the  fun 
for  a  fellow  to  be  poked  into  a  stupid 
watering  place,  where  he  must  bother 
to  keep  his  hair  parted  down  the  mid- 
dle, and  a  clean  collar  stiff  enough  to 
choke  him  on  from  mornino-  till 
night  ? ''  as  Tom  indignantly  remarked 
to  George  and  Will  the  same  evening. 
''The  fact  is,  this  sort  of  thing  is  the 
thing  for  a  man  after  all !  '^  an  opinion 
in  which  the  other  men  fully  con- 
curred. 

But  let  us  return  to  the  piazza, 
where  we  have  left  the  party.     After 


78^  COLONEL  FPwEDDY. 

a  few  moments  more  spent  in  chatting 
with  Mr.  Schermerhorn,  it  was  decid- 
ed to  accept  Colonel  Freddy's  jDolite 
invitation,  which  he  gave  with  such  a 
bright  little  bow,  to  inspect  the  camp. 
You  may  be  sure  it  was  in  apple-pie 
order,  for  Jerry,  who  had  taken  the 
Zouaves  under  his  special  charge,  in- 
sisted on  their  keeping  it  in  such  a 
state  of  neatness  as  only  a  soldier  ever 
achieved.  The  party  made  an  ex- 
tremely picturesque  group — the  gay 
uniforms  of  the  Zouaves,  and  light 
summer  dresses  of  the  ladies,  charm- 
ingly relieved  against  the  background 
of  trees;  while  Mr.  Schermerhorn's 
stately  six  feet,  and  somewhat  portly 
proportions,  quite  reminded  one  of 
General  Scott ;  especially  among  such 


COLONEL  FREDDY.  •    79 

a  small  army ;  in  which  George  alone 
quite  came  up  to  the  regulation  '^  G3 
inches/' 

Little  Jessie  ran  hither  and  thith- 
er, surrounded  by  a  crowd  of  ador- 
ers, who  w^ould  have  given  their 
brightest  buttons,  every  ^'man"  of 
them,  to  be  the  most  entertaining  fel- 
low of  the  corps.  They  showed  her 
the  battery  and  the  stacks  of  shining 
guns — made  to  stand  up  by  Jerry  in  a 
wonderful  fashion  that  the  boys  never 
could  hope  to  attain — the  inside  of  all 
the  tents,  and  the  smoke  guard  house 
(Tom  couldn't  help  a  blush  as  he 
looked  in) ;  and  finally,  as  a  parting 
compliment  (which,  let  me  tell  you,  is 
the  greatest,  in  a  boy's  estimation, 
that   can   possibly  be   paid),    Freddy 


809  OOLOisTIL  FREDDY. 

made  her  a  present  of  his  very  largest 
and  most  gorgeous  ^'  glass  agates ;  ^' 
one  of  which  was  all  the  colors  of  the 
rainbovv",  and  the  other  patriotically 
adorned  with  the  Stars  and  Stripes  in 
enamel.  Peter  climbed  to  the  top  of 
the  tallest  cherry  tree^  and  brought 
her  down  a  bough  at  least  a  yard  and 
a  half  lono;  crammed  with  ^^ox 
hearts ;  ^^  Harry  eagerly  offered  to 
make  any  number  of  ^^  stunning  bas- 
kets "  out  of  the  stones,  and  in  short 
there  never  was  such  a  belle  seen  be- 
fore. 

^^  Oh,  alnt  she  jolly  !  "  was  the  rul- 
ing opinion  among  the  Zouaves.  A 
private  remark  was  also  circulated  to 
the  effect  that  ^^IS^Iiss  Jessie  was  stun- 
ningly pretty." 


COLONEL  FREDDY.  ,^  81 


• 


The  young  ladies  at  last  said  good- 
by  to  the  camp ;  promising  faithfully 
to  send  all  the  visitors  they  could  to 
the  grand  review,  and  drove  off  highly 
entertained  with  their  visit.  Mr. 
Schermerhorn  decided  to  take  the  af- 
ternoon boat  for  the  city  and  return 
early  Friday  morning,  and  the  boys, 
left  to  themselves,  began  to  think  of 
dinner,  as  it  was  two  o'clock.  A  brisk 
discussion  was  kept  up  all  dinner  time 
you  may  be  sure,  concerning  the 
event  to  come  off  on  the  morrow. 

^^I  should  like  to  know,  for  my 
part,  what  we  do  in  a  review,"  said 
Jimmy,  balancing  his  fork  arttisically 
on  the  end  of  his  finger,  and  looking 
solemnly  round  the  table. 

'^Why,    shovr    off   everything   we 

II.— 6 


82  COLONEL  FREDDY. 

know  !  ^'  said  Charley  Spicer.  ^'  March 
about,  and  form  mto  ranks  and  col- 
umns, and  all  that  first,  then  do 
charmmg  ''  parade  rest/^  ^^  ^der 
humps !  '^  and  the  rest  of  it ;  and  fin- 
ish off  by  firing  off  our  guns,  and 
showing  how  we  can't  hit  anything  by 
any  possibility !  '^ 

^^But  these  guns  won't  fireofi*!'^ 
objected  Jimmy. 

^^  Well,  the  cannon  then  !  '^ 

^'  But  I'm  sure  father  won't  let  us 
have  any  powder,"  said  Peter  discon- 
solately. '^You  can't  think  how  I 
burnt  the  end  of  my  nose  last  Fourth 
with  powder!  It  was  so  sore  I 
couldn't  blow  it  for  a  week  !  *' 

The  boys  all  burst  out  laughing  at 
this    dreadful    disaster,    and    George 


COLONEL  Fi^EDDY.  83 

said,  "You  weren't  lighting  it  with 
the  end  of  your  nose,  were  you  ?  ^' 

"  No ;  but  I  was  stooping  over, 
cliarging  one  of  my  cannon,  and  I 
dropped  the  ^  punk '  right  in  the  muz- 
zle somehow,  and,  would  you  believe 
it,  the  nasty  thing  went  off  and  burnt 
my  nose !  and  father  said  I  shouldn^t 
play  with  powder  any  more,  because 
I  might  have  put  out  my  eyes/' 

"  "Well,  we  must  take  it  out  in 
marching,  then,^'  said  Freddy,  with  a 
tremendous  sigh. 

"No,  hold  on;  I'll  tell  you  what 
we  can  do  !  ^'  cried  Tom,  eagerly.  "  I 
have  some  '  double  headers '  left  from 
the  Fourth ;  we  mi^'ht  fire  them  out 
of   the    cannon;     they    make    noise 


84:  COLONEL  FREDDY. 

enough,  I'm  sure.  I'll  Tvrite  to  my 
mother  this  afternoon  and  get  them.'' 

The  boys  couldn't  help  being  struck 
Tvith  the  generosity  of  this  offer,  com- 
ing from  Tom  after  their  late  rather 
unkind  treatment  of  him ;  and  the 
older  ones  especially  were  very  par- 
ticular to  thank  him  for  his  present. 
As  soon  as  dinner  was  over,  he  started 
for  the  house  to  ask  Mr.  Schermer- 
horn  to  carry  his  message.  As  he 
hurried  along  the  road,  his  bright 
black  eyes  sparkling  with  the  happi- 
ness of  doing  a  good  action,  he  heard 
trotting  steps  behind  him,  felt  an  arm 
stealing  round  his  neck,  schoolboy 
fashion,  and  there  was  Freddy. 

^^  I  ran  after  you  all  the  way,"  he 
pantingly  said.     ^^  I  want  to  tell  you, 


COLONEL  FREDDY.  85 

dear  Tom,  how  much  we  are  obliged 
to  you  for  giving  us  your  crackers, 
and  how  sorry  we  are  that  we  acted 
so  rudely  to  you  the  other  day.  Please 
forgive  us ;  we  all  like  you  so  much, 
and  we  would  feel  as  mean  as  anything 
to  take  your  present  without  begging 
pardon.  George,  Peter,  and  I  feel 
truly  ashamed  of  ourselves  every  time 
we  think  of  that  abominable  court 
martial." 

^'  There,  old  fellow,  don't  say  a 
word  more  about  it !  "  was  the  hearty 
response;  and  Tom  threw  his  arm 
affectionately  about  his  companion. 
^^  It  was  my  fault,  Freddy,  and  all  be- 
cause I  was  mad  at  poor  old  Jerry  ;j 
how  silly !  I  was  sorry  for  what  I 
said  right  afterward." 


86  COLONEL  FPwEDDY. 

'^Tlien  we  are  friends  again  ?^^ 
cried  Freddy^  joyfully. 

^^Yes;  I'll  like  you  as  long  as  I 
live  !  and  ever  so  mucli  longer.  "  And 
so  we  will  leave  the  two  on  their  walk 
to  the  house^  and  close  this  abomi- 
nably long  chapter. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

A    GRAND     REVIEW. 

There  are  really  scarcely  words 
enough  in  the  dictionary  properly  to 
describe  the  immense  amount  of  drill 
got  through  with  by  the  Dashahed 
Zouaves  between  three  o^clock  that 
afternoon  and  twelve,  noon,  of  the  fol- 
lowing day.  This  Friday  afternoon 
was  going  to  be  memorable  in  history 
for  one  of  the  most  splendid  reviews 
on  record.  They  almost  ran  poor  old 
Jerry  off  his  legs  in  their  eagerness  to 
go  over  every  possible  variety  of  exer- 


88  COLONEL  FKEDDY. 

cise  known  to  ^'  Hardee's  Tactics,"  and 
nearly  dislocated  their  shoulder  blades 
tiying  to  waggle  their  elbows  back- 
ward and  forward  all  at  once  when 
they  went  at  ''  double  quick ;  "  at  the 
same  time  keeping  the  other  arm  im- 
movably pinioned  to  their  sides.  Then 
that  wonderful  operation  of  stacking 
the  rebellious  guns,  which  obstinately 
clattered  down  nine  times  and  a  half 
out  of  ten,  had  to  be  gone  through 
with,  and  a  special  understanding  pro- 
mulgated in  the  corps  as  to  when  Jer- 
ry's ''  'cler  arms  ! ''  meant  ''  shoulder 
arms/*'  and  when  ''  order  arms "  (or 
brino'ino;  all  the  muskets  down  to- 
gether  with  a  bang) ;  and,  in  short, 
there  never  was  such  a  busy  time  seen 
in  camp  before. 


COLONEL  FREDDY.  89 

Friday  morning  dawned^  if  pos- 
sible, still  more  splendidly  than  any  of 
the  preceding  days,  with  a  cool,  re- 
freshing breeze,  just  enough  snowy 
clouds  in  the  sky  to  keep  off  the  fiery 
summer  heat  in  a  measure,  and  not  a 
headache  nor  a  heartache  among  the 
Zouaves  to  mar  the  pleasure  of  the 
day.  The  review  was  to  come  off  at 
four  o'clock,  when  the  July  sun  would 
be  somewhat  diminished  in  warmth, 
and  from  some  hints  that  Jerry  let 
fall,  Mrs.  Lockitt,  and  the  fat  cook, 
Mrs.  Mincemeat,  were  holding  high 
council  up  at  the  house,  over  a  certain 
collation  to  be  partaken  of  at  the  end 
of  the  entertainments. 

As  the  day  wore  on  the  excitement 
of  our  friends  the  Zouaves  increased. 


90  COLONEL  FREDDY. 

Tliey  could  hardly  either  eat  then' 
dinners^  or  sit  down  for  more  than  a 
moment  at  a  time;  and  when,  about 
three  o'clock,  Mr.  Schermerhorn  en- 
tered the  busy  little  camp,  he  was  sur- 
rounded directly  with  a  crowd  of 
eager  questioners,  all  talking  at  once, 
and  making  as  much  noise  as  a  colony 
of  rooks. 

^^  Patience,  patience,  my  good 
friends !  ^^  laughed  Mr.  Schermerhorn, 
holding  up  a  finger  for  silence. 
^^  Every  one  in  turn.  Tom,  here  are 
your  ^  double  headers,'  with  love  from 
your  mother.  Fred,  I  saw  your  father 
to-day,  and  they  are  all  coming  down 
to  the  review.  George,  here  is  a  note 
left  for  YOU  in  mv  box  at  the  Post 
Ofl&ce,  and  Dashahed  Zouaves  in  gen- 


COLONEL  FREDDY.  1)1 

eral — I  have  one  piece  of  advice  to 
give  you.  Get  dressed  quietly,  and 
then  sit  down  and  rest  yourselves. 
You  will  be  tired  out  by  the  end  of  the 
afternoon,  at  all  events ;  so  don't  frisk 
about  more  than  you  can  help  at  pres- 
ent ;  "  and  Mr.  Schermerhorn  left  the 
camp ;  while  the  boys,  under  strong 
pressure  of  Jerry,  and  the  distant  notes 
of  a  band  which  suddenly  began  to 
make  itself  heard,  dressed  themselves 
as  nicely  as  they  could,  and  sat  down 
with  heroic  determination  to  wait  for 
four  o'clock. 

Presently,  carriages  began  to 
crunch  over  the  gravel  road  one  after 
another,  filled  with  merry  children, 
and  not  a  few  grown  people  besides. 
Mr.   and  Mrs.    Jourdain,   with   Bella, 


92  COLONEL  FREDDY. 

were  among  the  first  to  arrive;  and 
soon  after  tlie  Carltons'  barouche 
drove  up.  Jessie,  for  some  unknown 
reason,  was  full  of  half  nervous  glee, 
and  broke  into  innumerable  little  tril- 
ling laughs  when  any  one  spoke  to 
her.  A  sheet  of  lilac  note  paper,  fold- 
ed up  tight,  which  she  held  in  her 
hand,  seemed  to  have  something  to  do 
with  it,  and  her  soft  brown  curls  and 
spreading  muslin  skirts  were  in  equal 
danger  of  irremediable  ^^  mussing,^'  as 
she  fido'etted  about  on  the  carriao'e 
seat,  fully  as  restless  as  any  of  the 
Zouaves. 

Mr.  Schermerhorn  received  his 
guests  on  the  piazza,  where  all  the 
chairs  in  the  house,  one  would  think, 
were  placed  for  the  company,  as  the 


COLOXEL  FREDDY.  93 

best  view  of  the  lawn  was  from  this 
point.  To  the  extreme  riglit  were  the 
Avhite  tents  of  the  camp,  half  hidden 
by  the  immense  trunk  of  a  mas-nifi- 
cent  elm,  the  only  tree  that  broke  the 
smooth  expanse  of  the  lawn.  On  the 
left  a  thick  hawthorne  hedge  separat- 
ed the  ornamental  grounds  from  the 
cultiyated  fields  of  the  place,  while  in 
front  the  yiew  was  bounded  by  the 
blue  and  sparkling  waters  of  the 
Sound. 

Soon  four  o'clock  struck ;  and, 
punctual  to  the  moment,  the  Zouayes 
could  be  seen  in  the  distance,  forming 
their  ranks.  Jerry,  in  his  newest  suit 
of  regimentals,  bustled  about  here  and 
there,  and  presently  his  yoice  was 
heard   shouting,   ^^Are   ye   all   ready 


94  COLOKEL  FREDDY. 

now  ?  Squad,  ^Shux  !  H ARCH  !  "  and  to 
the  melodious  notes  of  "  Dixie,"  per- 
formed by  the  band,  which  was  sta- 
tioned nearer  the  house,  the  reaiment 
started  up  the  lawn !  Jerry  marching 
up  beside  them,  and  occasionally  ut- 
terino'  such  mysterious  mandates  as, 
^^  Easy  in  the  centre  !  keep  your  fours 
in  the  wheel !     Steady  now  !  " 

Oh,  what  a  burst  of  delighted  ap- 
plause greeted  them  as  they  neared 
the  house !  The  boys  hurrahed,  the 
girls  clapped  their  hands,  ladies  and 
gentlemen  waved  their  hats  and  hand- 
kerchiefs ;  while  the  Dashahed  Zou- 
aves, too  soldierly  now  to  grin,  drew 
up  in  a  long  line,  and  stood  Hke  stat- 
ues, without  so  much  as  winkin£>;. 

And  now  the  music  died  away,  and 


COLONEL  FREDDY.  95 

everybody  was  as  still  as  a  mousey  while 
Jerry  advanced  to  tlie  front^  and  is- 
sued the  preliminary  order : 

To  the  rear — open  order  !  '^  and  the 
rear  rank  straightway  fell  back  ;  exe- 
ciitino',  in  fact,  that  wonderful  ^'tek- 
kinapesstoth'rare ''  which  had  puzzled 
them  so  much  on  the  first  day  of  their 
drillino-.  Then  came  those  other  won- 
derf ul  orders : 

^'7' sent  humps! 

^'  Der  humps ! 

^^  GiY'nd  humps !  ^ 
And  so  on,  at  which  the  muskets  flew 
backward  and  forward,  up  and  down, 
with  such  wonderful  precision.  The 
spectators  were  delighted  beyond 
measure ;  an  enthusiastic  young  gen- 
tleman,   with    about   three   hairs    on 


96  COLONEL  FREDDY, 

eacli  side  of  his  mustache,  who  be- 
lon2:ed  to  the  Twentv-second  Re^'i- 
ment^  declared  ^'  It  was  the  best  drill 
he  had  seen  out  of  his  company 
room ! "  a  celebrated  artist,  whose 
name  I  dare  not  tell  for  the  world, 
sharpened  his  pencil,  and  broke  the 
point  off  three  times  in  his  hurry,  and 
at  last  produced  the  beautiful  sketch 
which  appears  at  the  front  of  this  vol- 
ume :  while  all  the  little  boys  who 
were  looking  on,  felt  as  if  they  would 
give  eyery  one  of  their  new  boots  and 
glass  agates  to  belong  to  the  gallant 
Dashahed  Zouayes. 

After  the  guns  had  been  put  in 
eyery  possible  variety  of  position,  the 
regiment  went  through  their  march- 
ing.     They    broke    into    companies, 


COLONEL  FKEDDY.  97 

formed  the  line  again,  divided  in  two 
equal  parts,  called  ^^  breaking  into  pla- 
toons/' showed  how  to  ''  wheel  on  the 
rio'ht  flank/'  and  all  manner  of  other 
mysteries. 

Finally,  they  returned  to  their 
companies,  and  on  Jerry's  giving  the 
order,  they  started  at  '^  double  quick  " 
(which  is  the  most  comical  tritty-trot 
movement  you  can  think  of),  dashed 
down  the  slope  of  the  lawn,  round  the 
great  elm,  up  hill  again  full  speed,  and 
in  a  moment  more  were  drawn  up  in 
unbroken  lines  before  the  house,  and 
standing  once  again  like  so  many 
statues.  ■* 

It  was  really  splendid  !  Round  af- 
ter round  of  applause  greeted  the 
Zouaves,  who  kept  their  positions  for 
n-7 


98  COLOKEL  FREDDY. 

a  moment,  then  snatching  off  their 
saucy  httle  fez  caps,  they  gave  the 
company  three  cheers  in  return,  of  the 
most  tremendous  description  ;  T\'hich 
quite  took  away  the  httle  remaining 
breath  they  had  after  the  ^^  double 
quick /^ 

Thus  ended  the  first  part  of  the  re- 
view ;  and  now,  with  the  assistance  of 
their  rather  Lilliputian  battery,  and 
Tom's  double  headers^  they  went 
through  some  firing  quite  loud  enough 
to  make  the  little  girls  start  and  jump 
uncomfortably ;  so  this  part  of  the  en- 
tertainment was  brought  to  rather  a 
sudden  conclusion.  Jerry  had  just  is- 
sued the  order,  ^^  Close  up  in  ranks  to 
dismiss,'^  when  Mr.  Schermerhorn, 
whO;  with  Miss   Carlton   and   Jessie^ 


COLONEL  FREDDY.  99 

had  left  the  piazza  a  few  minutes  be- 
fore^ came  forward,  saying,  ^^  Have  the 
goodness  to  wait  a  moment,  Colonel; 
there  is  one  more  ceremony  to  go 
through  with/^ 

The  boys  looked  at  each  other  in 
silent  curiosity,  wondering  what  could 
be  coming;  when,  all  at  once,  the 
chairs  on  the  piazza  huddled  back  in 
a  great  hurry,  to  make  a  lane  for  a 
beautiful  little  figure,  which  came 
tripping  from  the  open  door. 

It  was  Jessie ;  but  a  great  change 
had  been  made  in  her  appearance. 
Over  her  snowy  muslin  skirts  she  had 
a  short  classic  tunic  of  red,  white,  and 
blue  silk  ;  a  wreath  of  red  and  white 
roses  and  bright  blue  jonquils  encircled 
her  curls,  and  in  her  hand  she  carried 


100  COLONEL  FREDDY. 

a  superb  banner.  It  was  made  of  dark 
blue  silk,  trimmed  T\'itli  gold  fringe ; 
on  one  side  was  painted  an  American 
eagle,  and  on  the  other  the  words 
^^  Dashahed  Zouaves,"  surrounded 
with  a  blaze  of  glory  and  gold  stars. 
She  advanced  to  the  edge  of  the  pi- 
azza, and  in  a  clear,  sweet  voice,  a  lit- 
tle tremulous,  but  very  distinct,  she 
said: 

'^  COLOXEL  AND  BrAVE  SoLDlERS  : 

^^  I  congratulate  you,  in  the  name 
of  our  friends,  on  the  success  you  have 
achieved.  You  have  shown  us  to-day 
what  Young  America  can  do ;  and  as 
a  testimonial  of  our  high  admiration, 
I  present  you  the  colors  of  your  regi- 
ment! 

"  Take  them,  as  the  assurance  that 


COLONEL  FREDDY.  101 

our  hearts  are  with  you;  bear  them 
as  the  symbol  of  the  Cause  you  liave 
enhsted  under;  and  should  you  fall 
beneath  them  on  the  field  of  battle^  I 
bid  you  lay  down  your  lives  cheerfully 
for  the  flag  of  your  country,  and 
breathe  with  your  last  sigh  the  name 
of  the  Union!  Colonel,  take  your 
colors !  '^ 

Freddy's  cheeks  grew  crimson,  and 
the  great  tears  swelled  to  his  eyes  as 
he  advanced  to  take  the  flag  which 
Jessie  held  toward  him.  And  now 
our  little  Colonel  came  out  bright, 
sure  enough.  Perhaps  not  another 
member  of  the  regiment,  called  upon 
to  make  a  speech  in  this  way,  could 
have  thought  of  a  word  to  reply ;  but 
Freddy's  quick  wit  supplied  him  with 


102  COLOXEL  FPwEDDY. 

the  rio'ht  ideas;  and  it  was  with   a 

proud,   happy  face,    and   clear   voice 

that  he  responded : 

» 
'^  Ladies  and  Gentlemen  : 

"'  I  thank  you,  in  the  name  of  my 
regiment,  for  the  honor  you  have  done 
us.  Inspired  by  your  praises,  proud  to 
belong  to  the  army  of  the  Republic, 
we  hope  to  go  on  as  we  have  begun. 
To  your  kindness  we  owe  the  distin- 
guishing colors  under  which  we  march 
hereafter ;  and  by  the  Union  for  which 
we  fight,  they  shall  never  float  over  a 
retreating  battalion !  ^^ 

Oh !  the  cheers  and  clapping  of 
hands  which  followed  this  little 
speech!  Everybody  was  looking  at 
Freddy  as  he  stood  there,  the  colors  in 


COLOKEL  FREDDY.  103 

his  hand,  and  the  bright  flush  on  his 
cheek,  with  the  greatest  admiration. 
Of  course,  his  parents  weren^t  proud 
of  him ;  certainly  not  ! 

But  the  wonders  were  not  at  an 
end  yet ;  for  suddenly  the  band  began 
playing  a  new  air,  and  to  this  accom- 
paniment, the  sweet  voice  of  some 
lady  unseen,  but  which  sounded  to 
those  who  knew,  wonderfully  like  Miss 
Lucy  Carlton's,  sang  the  following  pa- 
triotic ballad : 

"  We  •will  stand  by  our  Flag — let  it  lead  where  it  will — 
Our  hearts  and  our  hopes  fondly  chng  to  it  still ; 
Through  battle  and  danger  our  Cause  must  be  won — 
Yet  forward  !  undaunted  we'll  follow  it  on  I 
'Tis  the  Flag  !  the  old  Flag  !  still  unsullied  and  bright, 
As  when  first  its  fair  stars  lit  oppression's  dark  night 
And  the  standard  that  guides  us  forever  shall  be 
The  Star-spangled  Banner,  the  Flag  of  the  Free  I 


104  COLONEL  FREDDY. 

"  A  handful  of  living — an  army  of  dead, 
The  last  charge  been  made  and  the  last  prayer  been  said ; 
What  is  it — as  sad  we  retreat  from  the  plain 
That  cheers  us,  and  nerves  us  to  rally  again  ? 
'Tis  the  Flag  !   the  old  Flag  !  to  our  country  God-given, 
That  gleams  through  our  ranks  like  a  glory  from  heav- 
en ! 
And  the  foe,  as  they  fly,  in  our  vanguard  shall  see 
The  Star-spangled  Banner,  the  Flag  of  the  Free  ! 

''  We  will  fight  for  the  Flag,  by  the  love  that  we  bear 
In  the  Union  and  Freedom,  we'll  baffle  despair ; 
Trust  on  in  our  country,  strike  home  for  the  right, 
And  Treason  shall  vanish  like  mists  of  the  night. 
Then  cheer  the  old  Flag  !  every  star  in  it  glows, 
The  terror  of  traitors  1  the  curse  of  our  foes  ! 
And  the  victory  that  crowns  us  shall  glorified  be, 
*Neath    the    Star-spangled    Banner,    the    Flag   of  the 
Free  !  " 

As  the  song  ended,  there  was  an- 
other tumult  of  applause;  and  then 
the  band  struck  up  a  lively  quickstep, 
and  the  company,  with  the  Zouaves 


COLONEL  FREDDY.  105 

marching  aliead^  poured  out  on  the 
lawn  toward  the  camp^  where  a  boun- 
tiful collation  was  awaiting  them, 
spread  on  the  regimental  table.  Two 
splendid  pyramids  of  flowers  orna- 
mented the  centre^  and  all  manner  of 
^^  goodies/'  as  the  children  call  them, 
occupied  every  inch  of  space  on  the 
sides.  At  the  head  of  the  table  Jerry 
had  contrived  a  canopy  from  a  large 
flao'  and  underneath  this,  Miss  Jes- 
sie,  Colonel  Freddy,  with  the  other 
officers,  and  some  favored  young  la- 
dies of  their  own  age,  took  their  seats. 
The  other  children  found  places  around 
the  table,  and  a  merrier  fete  champe- 
tre  never  was  seen.  The  band  con- 
tinued to  play  lively  airs  from  time  to 
time,  and  I  really  can  give  you  my 


106  COLONEL  FREDDY. 

word  as  an  author^  that  nobody  looked 
cross  for  a  sinoie  minute ! 

Between  you  and  me^  little  reader, 
there  had  been  a  secret  arrangement 
among  the  grown  folks  interested  in 
the  regiment,  to  get  all  this  up  in  such 
fine  style.  Every  one  had  contributed 
something  to  give  the  Zouaves  their 
fiao;  and  music,  while  to  Mr.  Scher- 
merhorn  it  fell  to  supply  the  supper ; 
and  arrangements  had  been  made  and 
invitations  issued  since  the  beginning 
of  the  week.  The  regiment,  certaiuly, 
had  the  credit,  however,  of  getting  up 
the  review,  it  only  having  been  the  idea 
of  their  good  friends  to  have  the  en- 
tertainment and  flag  presentation.  So 
there  was  a  pleasant  surprise  on  both 
sides ;  and  each  party  in  the  transac- 


COLONEL  FREDDY.  107 

tion,  was  quite  as  much  astonished  and 
deholited  as  the  other  coukl  wish. 

The  long  sunset  shadows  were  rap- 
idly stealing  over  the  velvet  sward  as 
the  company  rose  from  table,  adding 
a  new  charm  to  the  beauty  of  the 
scene.  Everywhere  the  grass  was 
dotted  with  groups  of  elegant  ladies 
and  gentlemen,  and  merry  children,  in 
light  summer  dresses  and  quaintly 
pretty  uniforms.  The  little  camp,  with 
the  stacks  of  guns  down  its  centre,  the 
bayonets  flashing  in  the  last  rays  of 
the  sun,  was  all  crowded  and  brilliant 
with  happy  people;  looking  into  the 
tents  and  admiring  their  exquisite  or- 
der, inspecting  the  bright  muskets, 
and  hstening  eagerly  or  good-humor- 
edly,  as  they  happened  to  be  children 


108  COLONEL  FREDDY. 

or  grown  people^  to  the  explanations 
and  comments  of  the  Zouaves. 

And  on  the  Uttle  grassy  knoll, 
where  the  flag  staff  was  planted,  cen- 
tral figure  of  the  scene,  stood  Colonel 
Freddy,  silent  and  thoughtful  for  the 
first  time  to-day,  with  Jerry  beside 
him.  The  old  man  had  scarcely  left 
his  side  since  the  boy  took  the  •flag ; 
he  would  permit  no  one  else  to  wait 
upon  him  at  table,  and  his  eyes  fol- 
lowed him  as  he  moved  among  the  gay 
crowd,  with  a  glance  of  the  utmost 
pride  and  affection.  The  old  volun- 
teer seemed  to  feel  that  the  heart  of  a 
soldier  beat  beneath  the  little  dandy 
ruffled  shirt  and  gold-laced  jacket  of 
the  young  Colonel.  Suddenly,  the  boy 
snatches  up  again  the  regimental  col- 


COLONEL  FREDDY.  109 

ors ;  the  Stars  and  Stripes,  and  little 
Jessie's  flag,  and  shakes  them  out  to 
the  evening  breeze  ;  and  as  they  flash 
into  view  and  once  more  the  cheers 
of  the  Zouaves  greet  their  colors,  he 
says,  with  quivering  lip  and  flashing 
eye,  ''  Jerry,  if  God  spares  me  to  be  a 
man,  I'll  live  and  die  a  soldier !  '^ 

The  soft  evening  hght  was  deepen- 
ing into  night,  and  the  beautiful  planet 
Venus  rising  in  the  west,  when  the 
visitors  bade  adieu  to  the  camp  ;  the 
Zouaves  were  shaken  hands  with  until 
their  wrists  fairly  ached;  and  then 
they  all  shook  hands  with  ''  dear '' 
Jessie,  as  Charley  was  heard  to  call 
her  before  the  end  of  the  dav,  and 
heard  her  say  iu  her  soft  little  voice 
how  sorry  she  was  they  must  go  to- 


110  COLOXEL  FREDDY. 

morrow  (though  she  certamly  couldn't 
have  been  sorrier  than  they  were),  and 
then  the  good  people  all  got  into  their 
carriages  again,  and  drove  off;  wav- 
ing their  handkerchiefs  for  good-by 
as  long  as  the  camp  could  be  seen; 
and  so,  with  the  sound  of  the  last 
wheels  dying  away  in  the  distance, 
ended  the  very  end  of 

The  Grand  Review. 


CHAPTER   v.— AXD   LAST. 

'^  HOME^  SWEET  HOME/^ 

And  now,  at  last,  had  come  that 
^^  day  of  disaster/'  when  Camp  McClel- 
lan  must  be  deserted.  The  very  sun 
didn't  shine  so  brilliantly  as  usual, 
thought  the  Zouaves  ;  and  it  was  posi- 
tively certain  that  the  past  five  days, 
although  they  had  occurred  in  the 
middle  of  summer,  were  the  very 
shortest  ever  known  !  Eleven  o'clock 
was  the  hour  appointed  for  the  break- 
ing up  of  the  camp,  in  order  that  they 


112  COLOXEL  FREDDY. 

might  return  to  the  city  by  the  early 
afternoon  boat. 

^'  Is  it  possible  ^ve  have  been  here 
a  week  ?  "  exclaimed  Jimmy,  as  he  sat 
down  to  breakfast.  '^  It  seems  as  if 
we  had  only  come  yesterday.^^ 

^'  What  a  jolly  time  it  has  been ! '' 
chimed  in  Charley  Spicer.  ^^I  don't 
want  to  go  to  Newport  a  bit.  Where 
are  you  going,  Tom  ?  " 

^^  To  Baltimore — but  I  don't  mean 
to  Secesh !  ^^  added  Tom,  with  a  little 
blush.  ^^I  have  a  cousin  in  the  Pal- 
metto Guards  at  Charleston,  and  that's 
one  too  many  rebels  in  the  family." 

^^  Xever  mind !  '^  cried  George 
Chadwick ;  '^  the  Pringles  are  a  first 
rate  family ;  the  rest  of  you  are  loyal 
enough,  I'm  sure !  '^  and  George  gave 


CX)L0^T:L  FREDDY.  113 

Tom  such  a  slap  on  the  back,  in  token 
of  his  good  ^vill,  that  it  quite  brought 
the  tears  into  his  eyes. 

AVhen  breakfast  was  over,  the 
Zouaves  repaired  to  their  tents,  and 
proceeded  to  pack  their  clothes 
away  out  of  the  lockers.  They  were 
not  very  scientific  packers,  and,  in 
fact,  the  usual  mode  of  doing  the 
business  was  to  ram  everything  hig- 
gledy-piggledy into  their  valises,  and 
then  jump  on  them  until  they  con- 
sented to  come  together  and  be 
locked.  Presently  Jerry  came  trot- 
ting down  with  a  donkey  cart  used  on 
the  farm,  and  under  his  directions  the 
boys  folded  their  blankets  neatly  up, 
and  placed  them  in  the  vehicle,  which 
then  drove  off  with  its  load,  leaving 

ji.— 8 


114:  COLONEL  FREDDY. 

them  to  get  out  and  pile  together  the 
other  furnishings  of  the  tents ;  for^  of 
course,  as  soldiers,  they  were  expected 
to  wind  up  their  own  affairs,  and  we 
all  know  that  boys  will  do  consider- 
able  hard  icork  when  it  comes  in  the 
form  of  play.  Just  as  the  cart,  with 
its  vicious  little  wrong-headed  steed, 
had  tugged,  and  jerked,  and  worried 
itself  out  of  sioiit,  a  lio'ht  basket  car- 
riage,  drawn  by  two  dashing  black 
Canadian  ponies,  drew  up  opposite  the 
camp,  and  the  reins  were  let  fall  by  a 
young  lady  in  a  saucy  "  pork  pie '' 
straw  hat,  who  was  driving — no  other 
than  Miss  Carlton,  with  Jessie  beside 
her.  The  bovs  eao'erlv  surrounded  the 
little  carriage,  and  Miss  Carlton  said, 
laughing,  ^^  Jessie  begged  so  hard  for 


COLONEL  FREDDY.  115 

a  last  look  at  the  camp,  that  I  had  to 
bring  her.  So  you  are  really  gomg 
away  ?  ^^ 

''Really/'  repeated  Freddy;  ''but 
I  am  so  olad  you  came,  Miss  Jessie, 
just  in  time  to  see  us  off/' 

"  You  know  soldiers  take  them- 
selyes  away  houses  and  all/'  said 
George ;  "  you  will  see  the  tents  come 
down  with  a  run  presently." 

"And  here  comes  Jerry  to  help 
us ! ''  added  Harry.  As  he  spoke,  the 
donkey  cart  rattled  up,  and  Jerry, 
touching  his  cap  to  the  ladies,  got  out, 
and  prepared  to  superintend  the  down- 
fall of  the  tents.  By  his  directions, 
two  of  the  Zouayes  went  to  each  tent, 
and  pulled  the  stakes  first  from  one 
corner,   then    the    other;    then   they 


116  COLOXEL  FREDDY. 

grasped  firmly  the  pole  wliicli  sup- 
ported the  centre^  and  when  the  ser- 
geant ejaculated  "  Now  !  '^  like  a  flash  ! 
the  tents  slid  smoothly  to  the  2:round 
all  at  the  same  moment,  just  as  you 
may  have  made  a  row  of  blocks  fall 
down  by  upsetting  the  first  one. 

And  now  came  the  last  ceremony, 
the  haulino'  down  of  the  flao\ 

''  Stand  by  to  fire  a  salute  !  ^'  shout- 
ed  Jerry^  and  instantly  a  company 
was  detached,  who  brought  the  six 
little  cannon  under  the  flagstafi*,  and 
charo'ed  them  with  the  last  of  the 
double  headers,  sayed  for  this  pur- 
pose ;  Freddy  stood  close  to  the  flag- 
staff*, with  the  halyards  ready  in  his 
hands.    Crack !  fizz !  went  six  matches 


COLONEL  FPwEDDY.  117 


for  the  cannon.     "Make  ready!  ap- 
ply light,  FIRE !  " 

Bang!  and  the  folds  of  the  flag 
stream  out  proudly  in  the  breeze,  as  it 
rapidly  descends  the  halyards,  and 
flutters  softly  to  the  greensward. 

There  was  perfectly  dead  silence 
for  a  moment ;  then  the  voice  of  Mr. 
Schermerhorn  was  heard  calhng, 
"  Come,  boys,  are  you  ready  ?  Jump 
in,  then,  it  is  time  to  start  for  the 
boat.''  The  boys  turned  and  saw  the 
carriages  which  had  brought  them  so 
merrily  to  the  camp  waiting  to  con- 
vey them  once  more  to  the  wharf; 
while  a  man  belonging  to  the  farm 
was  rapidly  piling  the  regimental  lug- 
gage into  a  wagon. 

With  sorrowful  faces  the  Zouaves 


lis  COLONEL  FREDDY. 

clustered  around  the  pretty  pony 
chaise  ;  shakhig  hands  once  more  T^'ith 
Jessie,  and  internally  vowing  to  adore 
her  as  long  as  they  lived.  Then  they 
got  into  the  carriages,  and  old  Jerry 
grasped  Freddy's  hand  with  an  affec- 
tionate ''Good-by,  my  little  Colonel, 
God  bless  ye  !  Old  Jerry  won't  never 
forget  your  noble  face  as  long  as  he 
lives.'^  It  would  have  seemed  like  in- 
sulting the  old  man  to  offer  him  money 
in  return  for  his  loving  admiration, 
but  the  handsome  gilt-edged  Bible 
that  found  its  way  to  him  soon  after 
the  departure  of  the  regiment,  was  in- 
scribed with  the  irregular  schoolboy 
signature  of  ''Freddy  Jourdain,  with 
love  to  his  old  friend  Jeremiah  Pike.'' 
As  for  the  regimental  standards^ 


COLONEL  FREDDY.  119 

they  were  found  to  be  rather  beyond  the 
capacity  of  a  rockaway  crammed  full 
of  Zouaves,  so  Tom  insisted  on  riding 
on  top  of  the  baggage,  that  he  might 
have  the  pleasure  of  carrying  them  all 
the  way.  Up  he  mounted,  as  brisk  as 
a  lamplighter,  w4th  that  monkey,  Pe- 
ter, after  him,  the  flags  were  handed 
up,  and  with  three  ringing  cheers,  the 
vehicles  started  at  a  rapid  trot,  and 
the  regiment  was  fairly  off.  They  al- 
most broke  their  necks  leanino-  back 
to  see  the  last  of  ^^  dear  Jessie,''  until 
the  locusts  hid  them  from  sight,  when 
they  relapsed  into  somewhat  dismal 
silence  for  full  five  minutes. 

As  Peter  was  going  on  to  Niagara 
w^ith  his  father,  Mr.  Schermerhorn  ac- 
companied the  regiment  to  the  city, 


120  COLONEL  FREDDY. 

wWch  looked  dustier  and  red  brickier 
(what  a  word !)  than  ever^  now  that 
they  were  fresh  from  the  lovely  green 
of  the  country.  By  Mr.  Schermer- 
horn^s  adyice,  the  party  took  posses- 
sion of  two  empty  Fifth  avenue  stages 
which  happened  to  be  waiting  at  the 
Fulton  ferry^  and  rode  slowly  up 
Broadway  to  Chambers  street^  where 
Peter  and  his  father  bid  them  good- 
by,  and  went  off  to  the  depot.  As  Pe- 
ter had  declined  changing  his  clothes 
before  he  left,  they  had  to  travel  all 

9.' 

the  way  to  Buffalo  with  our  young 
friend  in  this  unusual  guise;  but,  as 
people  had  become  used  to  seeing  sol- 
diers parading  about  in  uniform,  they 
didn't    seem     particularly    surprised, 


COLONEL  FKEDDY.  121 

whereat  Master  Peter  was  rather  dis- 
appointed. 

To  go  back  to  the  Zouaves,  how- 
ever. When  the  stages  turned  into 
Fifth  avenue,  they  decided  to  get  out ; 
and  after  forming  their  ranks  in  fine 
style,  they  marched  up  the  avenue,  on 
the  sidewalk  this  time,  stopping  at  the 
various  houses  or  street  corners  where 
they  must  bid  adieu  to  one  and  an- 
other of  their  number,  promising  to  see 
each  other  again  as  soon  as  possible. 

At  last  only  Tom  and  Freddy  were 
left  to  go  home  by  themselves.  As 
they  marched  along,  keeping  fault- 
less step,  Freddy  exclaimed,  ^'T  tell 
you  what,  Tom !  I  mean  to  ask  my 
father,  the  minute  he  comes  home,  to 
let  me  go  to  West  Point  as  soon  as  I 


122  COLONEL  FREDDY. 

leave  scliool !     I  must  be  a  soldier — I 
can't  think  of  anything  else  !  " 

'^  That's  just  what  I  mean  to  do  !  '^ 
cried  Tom,  with  sparkling  eyes ;  '^  and, 
Fred,  if  you  get  promoted  before  me, 
promise  you  will  have  me  in  your 
regiment,  won't  you  ? '' 

^^  Yes  I  will,  certainly !  "  answered 
Freddy;  ^^but  you're  the  oldest,  Tom, 
and,  you  know,  the  oldest  gets  pro- 
moted first;  so  mind  you  don't  for- 
get me  when  you  come  to  your  com- 
mand ! " 

As  he  spoke,  they  reached  his  own 
home ;  and  our  hero,  glad  after  all  to 
come  back  to  father,  mother,  and  sis- 
ter, bounded  up  the  steps,  and  rang 
the  bell  good  and  hard,  just  to  let  Jo- 
seph know  that  a  personage  of  emi- 


COLONEL  FKEDDY.  123 

nonce  had  arrived.  As  the  door 
opened,  he  turned  gavly  round,  cap  in 
hand,  sa}dng,  ^'  Good-by,  Maryland ; 
you've  left  the  regiment,  but  you'll 
never  leave  the  Union !  ^'  and  the  last 
words  he  heard  Tom  say  were,  ^^  No, 
by  George,  never  !  '^ 

And  now,  dear  little  readers,  my 
boy  friends  in  particular,  the  history 
of  Freddy  Jourdain  must  close.  He 
still  lives  in  Xew  York,  and  attends 
Dr.  Larned's  school,  where  he  is  at  the 
head  of  all  his  classes. 

The  Dashahed  Zouaves  have  met 
very  often  since  the  encampment,  and 
had  many  a  good  drill  in  their  room 
— the  large  attic  floor  which  Mr. 
Jourdain     allowed     them     for    their 


124  COLONEL   FREDDY. 

special  accommodation,  and  T\'here 
the  beautiful  regimental  colors  are 
carefully  kept,  to  be  proudly  displayed 
in  every  parade  of  the  Zouaves. 

When  he  is  sixteen,  the  bov  Colo- 
nel  is  to  enter  West  Point  Academy, 
and  learn  to  be  a  real  soldier ;  while 
Tom — poor  Tom,  who  went  down  to 
Baltimore  that  pleasant  July  month, 
promising  so  faithfully  to  join  Freddy 
in  the  cadet  corps,  may  never  see  the 
North  a2:ain. 

And  in  conclusion  let  me  say,  that 

should  our  country  aa'ain  be  in  danixer 

in  after  years,  which  God  forbid,  we 

may  be  sure  that  first  in  the  field,  and 

foremost   in   the   van   of    the    grand 

army,    will    be    our     gallant     young 

friend, 

Colonel  Freddy. 


COLONEL  FREDDY  125 

COXCLUSION. 

It  took  a  great  man}"  Saturday  af- 
ternoons to  finish,  tlie  story  of  '^Colo- 
nel  Freddy/^  and  the  cliildren  return- 
ed to  it  at  each  reading  with  renewed 
and  breathless  interest.  George  and 
Helen  couldn't  help  jumping  up  off 
their  seats  once  or  twice  and  clapping 
their  hands  with  delio-ht  when  any- 
thing  specially  exciting  took  place  in 
the  pages  of  the  yronderful  story  that 
Ayas  seen  ^^  before  it  w^as  printed/^  and 
a  great  many  '^  oil's  "  and  '^  all's  ^'  tes- 
tified to  their  appreciation  of  the  gal- 
lant ''Dashahed  Zouayes.'^  They 
laughed  oyer  the  captiye  Tom,  and 
cried  oyer  the  true  story  of  the  old 
sergeant ;    and   when   at   length    the 


126  COLONEL  TREDDY. 

very  last  word  had  been  read^  and 
their  mother  had  hiid  down  the  manu- 
script^ George  sprang  np  once  more, 
exclaiming ;  ^^  Oh,  I  wish  I  could  be  a 
boy  soldier !  Mamma,  mayn't  I  re- 
cruit a  regiment  and  camp  out  too  ? '' 
'^  And  oh !  if  I  could  only  present  a 
flag  !  ^^  cried  his  sister ;  ^^  I  wish  I  had 
been  Jessie ;  what  a  pity  it  wasn't  all 
true ! '' 

''  And  what  if  I  should  tell  you/' 
said  their  mother,  laughing,  ^^that  a 
little  bird  has  whispered  in  my  ear 
that  '  Colonel  Freddy '  was  wonder- 
fully like  your  little  Long  Island  friend 
Hilton  R^^ ? '' 

'^Oh,  mamma!  why,  what  makes 
you  think  so  ?  ^' 

^^  Oh,    something    funny    I    heard 


COLOXEL   FREDDY.  127 

about  liim  last  summer;  never  mind 
what ! " 

The  children  wisely  concluded  that 
it  was  no  use  to  ask  any  more  questions; 
at  the  same  moment  solemnly  resolv- 
ing that  the  very  next  time  they  paid 
a  visit  to  their  aunt^  who  lived  at  As- 
toria^ they  would  beg  her  to  let  them 

drive  over  to  Mr.  K 's  place^  and 

find  out  all  about  it. 

After  this,  there  were  no  more 
readings  for  several  Saturdays ;  but  at 
last  one  mornino-  when  the  children 
had  almost  given  up  all  hopes  of  more 
stories^  George  opened  his  eyes  on  the 
sock  hano'ino;  ao-ainst  the  door,  which 
looked  more  bulgy  than  ever.  ^^  Hur- 
rah ! ''  he  shouted ;  ^'  Aunt  Fanny's 
daughter    hasn't    forgotten   us^  after 


128  COLONEL  FREDDY. 

all !  ^'  and  dressing  himself  in  a  double 
quick,  helter-skelter  fashion,  George 
dashed  out  into  the  entry,  forgot  his 
good  resolution,  and  slid  down  the 
banisters  like  a  streak  of  lightning 
and  began  pummelling  on  his  sister's 
door  with  both  fists  ;  shouting,  "  Come, 
get  up  !  get  up,  Nelly  !  here's  another 
Sock  story  for  us  ! '' 

This  delio-htful  announcement  was 
quite  sufficient  to  make  Helen's  stock- 
ings, which  she  was  just  drawing  on  in 
a  lazy  fashion,  fly  up  to  their  places  in 
a  hurry  ;  then  she  popped  her  button- 
over  boots  on  the  wrong  feet,  and  had 
to  take  them  off  and  try  again ;  and, 
in  short,  the  whole  of  her  dressing  was 
an  excellent  illustration  of  that  time- 
honored  maxim,  ''  The  more  haste,  the 


COLOKEL  FREDDY.  129 

worse  speed;  ^^  George,  meanwhile,  per- 
forming' a  distracted  Indian  war  dance 
in  the  entry  outside^  nntil  his  father 
opened  his  door  and  wanted  to  know 
what  the  racket  was  all  about. 

^^  Socks !  socks !  father !  ^'  cried 
George,  joyfully. 

At  this  moment  Helen  came  out, 
and  the  two  children  scampered  down 
stairs,  and  sitting  down  side  by  side  on 
the  sofa,  they  proceeded  to  examine 
this  second  instalment  of  the  Sock 
stories.  They  found  it  was  again  a 
whole  book ;  and  the  title,  on  a  little 
page  by  itself,  read  '^  German  Socks.^' 

^^  Oh,  I  am  so  glad !  ^^  said  Helen. 
^^  These  must  be  more  stories  like  that 
dear  ^^  Little  "White  Angel.'' 

And  so  they  proved  to  be ;  for,  on 

II.— 9 


130  C0L0^T:L  FREDDY. 

their  mother's  commencino;  to  read 
the  first  story,  it  was  found  to  be 
called,  ^^  God's  Pensioners ;  ^^  and  com- 
menced, ^'  It  was  a  cold — ''  but  stop  ! 
halt !  This  book  was  to  be  devoted 
to  ^^  Colonel  Freddy ;  ^^  but  if  you  will 
only  go  to  Mr.  Leavitt's,  the  pub- 
lishers, you  will  there  discover  what 
was  the  rest  of  the  second  Sock  Sto- 
ries. 


THE  END. 


i^ 


% 


^u.^ 


>A 


RARK  BOOK 
COLLECTION 


THE  LIBRARY  OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF 

NORTH  CAROLINA 

AT 

CHAPEL  HILL 

Wilmer 
87 


